Part 2: Quality of Provision Quality assessments of higher education Section 18: Office for Students: power to assess the quality of higher education by reference to student outcomes
This section amends section 23 of HERA 2017, which makes provision for the assessment of the quality of, and the standards applied to, higher education by the OfS. Specifically, the section adds new subsections (4) to (9) to section 23 as follows:
Subsection (4) provides that the OfS may take into account student outcomes when assessing the quality of higher education provided by a registered higher education provider.
Subsection (5) provides that student outcomes can be measured by any means that the OfS considers appropriate, including by reference to course continuation rates, completion rates and progression of students to further study or employment.
Subsection (6) provides that the OfS may determine and publish minimum expected levels for particular measures of student outcomes which all institutions are expected to meet.
Subsection (7) makes clear that the OfS is not required to determine and publish different levels to reflect differences in student characteristics, different institutions or types of institution, different subjects or courses, or any other such factor.
Subsection (8) provides that when considering the student outcomes of an institution, the OfS may take account of whether the institution has met the minimum expected outcome level which is applicable to it.
Subsection (9) provides definitions for key terms used in this section.