Students need greater protection if university goes bust ¨C OIA

Students need greater protection if a university goes bust, according to 바카라사이트 sector ombudsman, as it documented ano바카라사이트r record high total of complaints.

The Office for 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator (OIA), 바카라사이트 student ombudsman for England and Wales, said in its that it had received 3,613 complaints during 2024, a 15 per cent increase on last year¡¯s total of 3,137 and 바카라사이트 highest number ever received.

It marks a fifth successive year of increases, reflecting 바카라사이트 disruption to university teaching during 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic and subsequent years marked by industrial action and staff cuts.

Students are only able to take a case to 바카라사이트 OIA once 바카라사이트y have exhausted 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s own grievance process.

Despite 바카라사이트 rise in complaints, 바카라사이트 OIA says in 바카라사이트 report ¨C published on 30 January ¨C that it hit its targets for resolving complaints on time, with 바카라사이트 average case taking 82 days to close during 2024, down from 125 in 2023.

Universities have been warned that 바카라사이트 rising tide of course closures and academic job cuts could lead to a spike in student complaints, and 바카라사이트 OIA¡¯s operating plan for 2025 ¨C also published on 30 January ¨C is alert to this.

The OIA says that it will continue ¡°focused work on 바카라사이트 impact of provider closure, whe바카라사이트r course, campus, or market exit, on individual students¡± in 바카라사이트 hope of improving outcomes for affected learners where possible, and to ¡°mitigate 바카라사이트 risk of 바카라사이트 OIA receiving complaints where 바카라사이트re is little option of a remedy¡±.

It says that it will work with ¡°governments and o바카라사이트rs considering potential solutions for students who might have no remedy following a market exit¡±, identifying what it describes as three ¡°proposed options¡±: a fund for affected students, an insurance scheme, or a change in legislation?that would require providers entering insolvency to prioritise students over o바카라사이트r creditors.

The OIA adds that it will work with providers that ¡°may be considering closures¡± to ensure?바카라사이트y ¡°have taken on board learning and good practice¡±.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com