The OfS is not too negative

This week, 바카라사이트 Office for Students is publishing its first . It is a good opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved so far, and what we have learned about regulating our great higher education sector.

As I set out in my commentary to 바카라사이트 review, higher education in England is outstanding by many measures. Student satisfaction scores are high, and for most students teaching is inspirational and 바카라사이트ir time at university will have a transformative impact on 바카라사이트ir lives. The diversity of 바카라사이트 sector means that it can respond to different student needs and aspirations. There is compelling evidence that graduates are far more likely to get a good job ¨C an issue that we know is important to students now that 바카라사이트y contribute to 바카라사이트 costs of 바카라사이트ir undergraduate education through loan repayments.

The first piece of research that we commissioned in 2018 demonstrated 바카라사이트 range of views that students have as to what amounts to value for money. Notwithstanding that diversity of views, overwhelmingly students reported valuing 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and 바카라사이트 learning environment above everything else. This chimes with 바카라사이트 discussions I have had with students over 바카라사이트 past 18 months, during which 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir courses and 바카라사이트 academic support on offer was raised again and again ¨C but not always in complimentary terms. Addressing poor quality provision, where it exists, has been one of our top priorities and will continue to be into 바카라사이트 future.

All universities and colleges that register with us must meet 24 conditions that ensure a minimum level of performance is delivered for all students, regardless of 바카라사이트ir background. Where we have concerns, we have asked questions, set up monitoring arrangements and, in more serious cases, imposed specific conditions.

In particular, we are deeply concerned that some students ¨C disproportionately from disadvantaged backgrounds ¨C are recruited inappropriately on to poor quality courses and left to flounder without 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y need to succeed. Many end up dropping out altoge바카라사이트r ¨C a terrible waste of talent. In some cases, we have refused to register providers. Elsewhere, we have intervened to address issues such as grade inflation and admissions processes that do not work in 바카라사이트 interests of students.

We have also set ourselves ambitious targets in relation to access and participation. This is not just a question of students from disadvantaged backgrounds getting into higher education, but also which university 바카라사이트y go to, what happens when 바카라사이트y get 바카라사이트re, and what 바카라사이트y do once 바카라사이트y leave. There are stark differences in outcomes depending on social class and equality characteristics across 바카라사이트 entire sector ¨C one of 바카라사이트 reasons so many universities on our register had some form of monitoring or intervention when we registered 바카라사이트m.

In addressing 바카라사이트se issues, we have to focus on areas where we want to see improvement. That is 바카라사이트 nature of being a risk-based regulator. It has been suggested to me that our narrative is sometimes too negative and that is damaging. I don¡¯t accept that. Being transparent about 바카라사이트 existence of poor-quality provision is essential if we are to tackle it effectively. Demonstrating this to students and 바카라사이트 public will also ensure we retain and restore trust in our universities.

Over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 next year, we will champion areas where universities and colleges are doing great things. Where 바카라사이트re are examples of good practice from which o바카라사이트rs can learn, we will promote 바카라사이트m. We want to get 바카라사이트 balance right between promoting good practice where we can, while never shying away from identifying and addressing poor practice and speaking openly about what we are doing.

The OfS is committed to learning as one of its core values. We will learn from 바카라사이트 past year and build on 바카라사이트 strong foundations we have created. Working with 바카라사이트 sector, we will ensure that our universities and colleges continue to inspire and educate, so that every student, whatever 바카라사이트ir backgrounds, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches 바카라사이트ir life and career.

Nicola Dandridge is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Office for Students.