Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
The OfS told us that it did not have a definition of value for money...
Conclusion
The OfS told us that it did not have a definition of value for money because it believed that it could mean different things to different people at different times. In 2018 it had commissioned a consortium of student unions to look at what the definition of value for money should be, and had found there were different views. There were some common themes and priorities, of which quality of provision was at the core, but also outcomes for students on graduation.47 It told us that quality was at the heart of what the OfS does and is one of its top three concerns, along with financial viability and sustainability, and access, participation and social mobility.48
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2022 5.2 Both the department and the OfS are committed to improving the quality of higher education provision. Ensuring that students are satisfied with the value for money offered by their courses is a government priority. 5.3 The OfS is introducing an enhanced quality regulatory regime which will enable it, through robust investigation and enforcement action, to tackle the pockets of low-quality provision. This will include the introduction in September 2022 of detailed student outcome thresholds, by level and mode of study, covering continuation and completion rates and progression to managerial and professional employment or further study. In May 2022 the OfS also introduced new registration conditions covering students’ academic experience including course design and delivery, the provision of resources and support for students, reliable and effective course assessment and degree awards, and the use of sector-recognised standards. 5.4 The OfS is also considering how it measures value for money through its key performance measures and is considering the use of student surveys and the use of student outcomes data, described earlier, as part of this measure. 5.5 The OfS review of blended learning, which is supported by a panel of expert academic reviewers, will set out where approaches represent high quality teaching and learning, as well as approaches that are likely to fall short of OfS’s requirements. The review will report in September 2022. The OfS also recently announced investigations into the business and management courses of eight providers, which will include examining whether online learning has replaced face-to-face teaching to the detriment of students’ academic experience.