The English regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), has voiced “significant concerns” about the work of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), its outgoing designated quality body (DQB).
In a critical report, the QAA’s work was said to be “not satisfactory” due to its assessments of higher education providers being often delayed and not meeting regulatory requirements.
The OfS also said the QAA’s growing membership offering was a potential “conflict of interest” and the issues meant it was not providing value for money for providers or their students.
In conclusion, the regulator said it would have recommended the QAA be stripped of its DQB role – under which it conducts assessments relating to the allocation of degree-awarding powers and the right to use the university title – if the QAA had not already announced its intention to give up the designation in March.
