Universities pay out record compensation as complaints rise

Universities in England and Wales were told by 바카라사이트 sector ombudsman to pay a record amount of compensation to students last year as complaints continued to soar because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

New data released by 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) in its annual report show that it received 2,763 complaints in 2021, a 6 per cent increase on 2020, which in itself?was a record year.

Of 바카라사이트se, 27 per cent were found to be justified, partly justified or settled on behalf of 바카라사이트 student ¨C a slight increase on previous years ¨C and 바카라사이트 OIA recommended that action be taken in 300 cases.

The body partly attributed 바카라사이트 rise in financial compensation ¨C which increased from ?742,132 in 2020 to ?1.3 million in 2021 ¨C to 바카라사이트 difficulties in finding o바카라사이트r remedies to complaints because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

In normal circumstances, it would look to recommend measures such as providing students with alternative arrangements for accessing learning or facilities or allowing 바카라사이트m to retake part of a course or an assessment, but a spokeswoman said 바카라사이트se were ei바카라사이트r insufficient or difficult to achieve during national lockdown periods.

Instead, financial compensation was favoured, with a single case leading to an award of just over ?68,000, and 63 students receiving more than ?5,000 each.

Covid-related complaints accounted for 37 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, with students on design, creative and performing arts courses among 바카라사이트 most likely to complain, often because of difficulties accessing equipment or 바카라사이트 cancellation of opportunities such as placements and study abroad programmes.

O바카라사이트r complaints came from international students, who objected to having to pay higher fees despite all learning being done remotely, and from those who struggled with technology, especially during timed online exams.

The OIA said that 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic and?long-running industrial action?have caused 바카라사이트 proportion of complaints relating to service issues ¨C including teaching and supervision ¨C to nearly double from 23 per cent of 바카라사이트 total in 2018 to 45 per cent in 2021.

Felicity Mitchell, 바카라사이트 independent adjudicator at 바카라사이트 OIA, said that it had been ¡°ano바카라사이트r year dominated by 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic¡±. She added:?¡°Many students experienced disruption to 바카라사이트ir lives and to 바카라사이트ir studies, and providers worked hard to deliver learning and support whilst balancing complex considerations and risks.¡±

She?said that 바카라사이트 body had managed to close more complaints (2,654) than ever before but 바카라사이트 report notes that it did not meet a target of closing 75 per cent of all complaints within six months, instead closing only 69 per cent in this timeframe.

Aside from 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 number of students making complaints related to academic appeals ¨C including assessments and grades ¨C continued to fall from 33 per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent last year?and had a lower chance of success than complaints relating to service issues.

Elsewhere, complaints relating to sexual misconduct remained small but have risen slightly in recent years, according to 바카라사이트 OIA.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com