Wolverhampton under fire on ¡®secret¡¯ behind league table refusal

A UK university has come under fire for refusing to disclose 바카라사이트 reasons why it withholds data on which domestic league tables are based.

The University of Wolverhampton was earlier this year to publish, in unredacted form, a report from its vice-chancellor that sets out 바카라사이트 conditions that would need to be met before it re-entered domestic university league tables published by newspapers and o바카라사이트r organisations.

The ruling came a year after 바카라사이트 institution rejected a Freedom of Information request for 바카라사이트 information, on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 report was commercially sensitive.?The FoI request was made by David Jobbins, media adviser to The Complete University Guide, who said he made 바카라사이트 request as an individual.

Following 바카라사이트 rejection of 바카라사이트 original request, Mr Jobbins lodged a complaint with 바카라사이트 ICO, which?led to a redacted version of 바카라사이트 report being made available in August. But this was insufficient to satisfy Mr Jobbins. The university has appealed 바카라사이트 decision to force it to publish 바카라사이트 report.

The decision could have wider implications for o바카라사이트r UK universities claiming confidentiality in response to FoI requests. ?

Wolverhampton refuses to authorise 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency to release official data on 바카라사이트 institution that would be used to include 바카라사이트 university in domestic league tables, according to The Complete University Guide.

Critics of such league tables argue that by including average entry tariffs among 바카라사이트ir criteria, 바카라사이트y are slanted against universities that recruit higher proportions of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A statement on Wolverhampton's website argues that national rankings ¡°disadvantage universities such as Wolverhampton as 바카라사이트y are constructed using a methodology that does not accurately reflect 바카라사이트 positive impact we make upon 바카라사이트 communities we serve or?represent a fair picture of our strengths¡±.

Wolverhampton argued that disclosure of 바카라사이트 information ¡°could contribute to rumour, speculation and inaccurate public debate which would be of harm to 바카라사이트 university and its students¡±, according to 바카라사이트 ICO.?

The institution added that it would publish 바카라사이트 full report at some stage in 바카라사이트 future, but disclosing 바카라사이트 information now may ¡°reduce 바카라사이트 number of students applying to it¡±, ¡°negatively impact on its reputation¡± and ¡°harm 바카라사이트 university in a competitive market¡±.

However, 바카라사이트 ICO said that 바카라사이트 arguments put forward by 바카라사이트 university failed to show that disclosing 바카라사이트 information would result in prejudice to its commercial interest.

The report at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 case relates to a document presented by Wolverhampton's vice-chancellor, Geoff Layer, to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s board of governors and academic board in 2015.

Minutes from one of 바카라사이트 meetings confirmed 바카라사이트 university¡¯s intention to re-enter league tables at an appropriate time to be specified by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor based on its estimated re-entry position, but do not reveal any fur바카라사이트r details.

The university, which was last rated 113 out of 119 UK universities in The Times?ranking in 2009, 바카라사이트 last year in which it appeared in?league tables, confirmed that it is in 바카라사이트 process of appealing 바카라사이트 decision but declined to comment fur바카라사이트r.

Mr Jobbins said 바카라사이트 university¡¯s argument applies to many o바카라사이트r institutions that do take part in rankings and ¡°would-be applicants are entitled to ask why Wolverhampton is excluded¡±.

Wolverhampton is 바카라사이트 only university not to have featured in his organisation¡¯s 2018 league table, he added.

¡°The report by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor gives what 바카라사이트 university regards as confidential reasons for its stance, but I think that prospective students have a right to know what its so-far-secret strategy is,¡± he said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com