Top payout for 'substandard' handling of case

The UK student complaints body has awarded its highest-ever compensation payment, owing to a university's "substandard" handling of a case in which a PhD candidate became embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of harassment.

Although 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator found that it was reasonable for 바카라사이트 university's disciplinary court to declare a finding of harassment against 바카라사이트 student - known as "S" - because her behaviour had been "wholly inappropriate", it said 바카라사이트 institution's procedures were too formal and encouraged students to seek legal representation.

The student involved went through a series of formal hearings, spent more than ?30,000 on solicitors' fees and was kept waiting for 바카라사이트 university's final decision for more than three years.

After taking her complaint to 바카라사이트 OIA, she was awarded ?45,000 in compensation.

Rob Behrens, 바카라사이트 independent adjudicator, said: "It is 바카라사이트 highest amount we have awarded and is a reflection of 바카라사이트 substandard handling of 바카라사이트 case by 바카라사이트 university.

"Some of 바카라사이트 things that went on in that case caused concerns. There was, for example, a so-called 'university court' to deal with 바카라사이트 issue, in which a judge was brought into 바카라사이트 university and told 바카라사이트 student during 바카라사이트 hearing to be quiet because it was a 'court of law'.

"That was surprising and overly formal."

The OIA's annual report says that 바카라사이트 level of formality in 바카라사이트 university's procedures "encouraged students to seek legal representation": however, 바카라사이트 institution had originally agreed to pay only ?2,000 towards 바카라사이트 legal costs of "S".

Figures published this week show that 바카라사이트 number of complaints received by 바카라사이트 OIA exceeded 1,000 for 바카라사이트 first time in 2009.

The proportion of complaints found to be justified was small - 5 per cent - and lower than 바카라사이트 previous year (7 per cent). Thirteen per cent were found to be partly justified and 75 per cent "not justified".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.