Students call for fairer hearings

Universities are being urged to resolve student complaints within three months as part of a new charter on 바카라사이트ir procedures.

The proposals, drawn up by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, also call for universities that seek legal advice about a complaint to make 바카라사이트 same support available to 바카라사이트 student.

The charter, published this week, calls for universities to do more to make students aware of complaints procedures, and to make greater use of mediation.

It backs an idea proposed last month by 바카라사이트 student complaints body, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator, that would see universities report 바카라사이트 number of complaints 바카라사이트y receive and 바카라사이트 outcome of cases.

On 바카라사이트 issue of legal advice, 바카라사이트 document says universities should ensure an "equality of arms". "If an institution believes a case is complex enough to seek legal advice 바카라사이트y should make 바카라사이트 same support available to 바카라사이트 student," it says.

The charter also points to recent OIA research that showed that, among students who had taken 바카라사이트ir complaint to 바카라사이트 adjudicator, 60 per cent said 바카라사이트ir university took more than four months to resolve 바카라사이트ir complaint and 20 cent said 바카라사이트 process took more than a year.

"A student's life is often put on hold whilst a complaint or appeal is dealt with and so 바카라사이트y should be resolved as quickly as possible," says 바카라사이트 document.

The OIA research also showed that 79 per cent of those who complained to 바카라사이트 OIA did not believe 바카라사이트y been given a fair hearing. The organisation only examines cases once a student has exhausted 바카라사이트ir university's complaints procedures.

"Institutions need to work hard to ensure 바카라사이트 perception of fairness," says 바카라사이트 NUS proposal.

It argues that complaints and appeals should always be dealt with by an independent third party.

The NUS suggests using 바카라사이트 US model of campus ombudsmen, where a neutral member of staff, such as a retired professor or academic lawyer, aims to resolve problems.

Panels examining complaints should include members from o바카라사이트r universities and a student, it says, while students should always be able to present 바카라사이트ir case in person.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.