Are we measuring the wrong things? Respondents to our recent consultations about regulating student outcomes sometimes suggested we might be.
Some suggested that continuation and completion are not the only measures of quality, and can be viewed, at best, as poor proxies for quality. Some suggested that these measures fail to take account of life circumstances, which may result in certain student groups not completing their studies. Others suggested that the OfS is proposing to apply too narrow a definition of ‘positive outcomes’ which fails to recognise the many benefits of higher education outside of graduate employment.
Our proposals are still subject to consultation and we’ll make final decisions about our future approach over the coming weeks.
