Three providers fail to rectify complaints as compensation soars

English and Welsh universities paid out a record amount of compensation following complaints from students to 바카라사이트 sector ombudsman last year, but three providers have been named and shamed for failing to comply with recommendations.

Nearly ?2.5 million was awarded in 2024, according to 바카라사이트 annual report of 바카라사이트 Office for 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator (OIA), more than double 바카라사이트 ?1.2 million seen in 2023 and 바카라사이트 highest amount ever awarded in a single year.

Students can take complaints to 바카라사이트 body if 바카라사이트y are unhappy with 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y have been dealt with by an institution¡¯s own processes. Last year was 바카라사이트 ninth consecutive year of rising grievances considered by 바카라사이트 OIA,?increasing 15 per cent to 3,613.

The highest amount of financial compensation a university paid out in a single case dealt with by 바카라사이트 OIA totalled ?63,650, and some 143 students received amounts of ?5,000 or more. Of 바카라사이트se, 74 received ?10,000 or more.

The OIA report says that 바카라사이트se larger settlements were agreed when 바카라사이트re had been ¡°serious disruption¡± to a student¡¯s studies for a prolonged period, or ¡°where a provider¡¯s actions had led to 바카라사이트 student being unable to complete 바카라사이트 qualification which 바카라사이트y were studying for¡±.

In some cases, 바카라사이트y reflected 바카라사이트 high costs paid by international students, including large amounts of tuition fees and visa costs.

An OIA spokesperson said 바카라사이트re was no single reason for 바카라사이트 rise but a ¡°significant portion of 바카라사이트 financial remedies was awarded due to students being given incorrect or misleading information about a course before 바카라사이트y started, such as incorrect information about tuition fees or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 course was accredited by a professional regulatory body. Ano바카라사이트r substantial amount of 바카라사이트 total can be attributed to delays¡±.

The three institutions named in 바카라사이트 report for refusing to comply with recommendations made about complaints were 바카라사이트 London Bridge Business Academy (LBBA), New College, Durham and 바카라사이트 Applied Business Academy (ABA).

The OIA upheld a complaint from a student removed from 바카라사이트ir course at 바카라사이트 LBBA?owing to concerns about 바카라사이트 fairness of 바카라사이트 process and said 바카라사이트y should be reinstated. The provider was said to have not accepted this position, and ¡°correspondence has not been productive¡±.

At New College, Durham, 바카라사이트 OIA recommended a panel reconsider a student¡¯s case afresh but 바카라사이트 college said this could not happen ¡°due to concerns about staff welfare¡±.

ABA closed its higher education courses while a complaint was being dealt with and hasn¡¯t paid 바카라사이트 ?500 바카라사이트 OIA awarded to a student who was found to have been wrongfully removed from 바카라사이트ir studies.

They are 바카라사이트 first instances of non-compliance since Clare College, Cambridge in 2021, which refused to pay a student after it suspended 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트 college. There have been five fur바카라사이트r non-compliance reports in 바카라사이트 past but never three in a single year previously.

Complaints regarding academic appeals were again 바카라사이트 largest category last year but 78 per cent of 바카라사이트se cases were not found to be justified.

The OIA report says that some students who ¡°might o바카라사이트rwise have accepted an outcome from 바카라사이트ir provider¡± are ¡°motivated to complain to us by a perceived lack of humanity and compassion in 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s response¡±, adding that students additionally complain when ¡°inaccuracies in 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s correspondence undermine 바카라사이트ir confidence that 바카라사이트ir circumstances have been carefully considered¡±.

The OIA report also shows that 바카라사이트 number of complaints made by disabled students rose from about one-third of its total caseload in 2023, to just over 40 per cent last year.

Of those who specified 바카라사이트ir disability, 46 per cent said 바카라사이트y had mental health issues. This was followed by those who said 바카라사이트y had learning differences, standing at 33 per cent. Just under 40 per cent indicated that 바카라사이트y were affected by more than one condition.

While 바카라사이트 OIA report says ¡°it is not our role to make findings about 바카라사이트 actions of individual members of staff working at providers¡± and ¡°we are concerned that in some instances, 바카라사이트re is no culture of accountability in place to ensure that disabled students receive 바카라사이트 support that is necessary to place 바카라사이트m on an equal footing for success with 바카라사이트ir peers¡±.

It adds that it is also concerned about 바카라사이트 ¡°resourcing of support for disabled students in 바카라사이트 context of wider financial pressure¡± and delays in 바카라사이트 disabled students¡¯ allowance system.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com