Higher Education Reform to Back Opportunity and Protect Students 4 November 2024 UK News and Communications
The government has today announced a package of higher education reforms that will back opportunity, improve outcomes for students, and protect them from unfair practice.
The reforms will:
- Introduce a new student protection body to champion students’ interests and hold providers to account.
- Ensure universities are held accountable for the quality of teaching and support they provide to students.
- Support fair access and opportunity for all students, regardless of their background.
- Protect students from unfair practices such as grade inflation and misleading marketing.
The reforms are part of the government’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality of higher education in the UK. They follow an independent review of the sector, which found that while there are many strengths, there are also some areas that need to be addressed.
The government believes that these reforms will help to create a higher education system that is fairer, more transparent, and more accountable.
New Student Protection Body
The new student protection body will be an independent body that will represent the interests of students. It will have the power to:
- Investigate complaints from students about their university or college.
- Take action against providers that are not meeting the required standards.
- Provide information and advice to students about their rights and responsibilities.
The student protection body will be funded by a levy on higher education providers.
Ensuring Universities Are Held Accountable
The government will introduce a new quality framework for higher education providers. This framework will set out the standards that universities and colleges must meet in order to operate.
The framework will cover areas such as:
- The quality of teaching and support provided to students.
- The accuracy of marketing materials.
- The fairness of admissions processes.
- The adequacy of student support services.
Providers that fail to meet the required standards will be subject to sanctions, including fines and the loss of their right to operate.
Supporting Fair Access and Opportunity
The government will invest £100 million in a new fund to support fair access and opportunity in higher education. This fund will be used to:
- Provide outreach and support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Fund initiatives to improve the retention and attainment of students from underrepresented groups.
- Support universities and colleges to develop and implement innovative approaches to widening participation.
Protecting Students from Unfair Practices
The government will introduce a number of measures to protect students from unfair practices, including:
- A ban on grade inflation.
- A requirement for universities and colleges to provide clear and accurate information about their courses and qualifications.
- A ban on misleading marketing practices.
The government will also work with the Competition and Markets Authority to ensure that students are treated fairly by higher education providers.
Next Steps
The government will now consult on the detailed proposals for the reforms. The reforms will be introduced through legislation in the next parliamentary session.
The government believes that these reforms will help to create a higher education system that is fairer, more transparent, and more accountable. They will back opportunity, improve outcomes for students, and protect them from unfair practice.
Higher education reform to back opportunity and protect students
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