OFS Probes Sub-Contracting Partners in UK Higher Education
2 Min Read
A report suggests that a new analysis of the increasing use of sub-contractual partnerships between UK higher education institutions (HEIs) and third-party providers highlights several risks to the sector if this trend is not addressed. While these sub-contractual partnerships offer potential advantages for both students and HEIs, they are not without challenges, as noted by the Office for Students (OfS) in an insights document published on 3rd September.
The risks associated with these arrangements include the prioritisation of student recruitment and retention over course quality. Additionally, some students with insufficient English language skills are often assured that they are adequately prepared for particular courses without being informed of their need for further assistance. Instances have also been reported of students paying for fraudulent English language proficiency tests.
A sub-contractual partnership typically involves a leading provider, such as a university, outsourcing the delivery of all or part of a course to a third-party provider. Students pay their fees to the lead provider, which retains a portion before passing the remainder to the delivery partner.
Numerous examples of such partnerships exist, often facilitating access to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for students from low socio-economic backgrounds who might not otherwise consider relocating to a different city for their studies. These arrangements provide flexible and local educational opportunities.
In fact, OfS provides valuable insights into the characteristics of students attending sub-contracted partner institutions. For instance, nearly half of new students are aged 31 or over, and 60 per cent come from areas classified within the top two rankings on the multiple deprivation index.
Several sub-contractual models have emerged; for example, QA collaborates with institutions such as London Metropolitan University, Solent University, and Ulster University, while the Elisabeth School of London offers courses for St Mary’s University Twickenham and Bath Spa University, among others.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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