The OIA deals with complaints and grievences once other avenues have been exhausted |
COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVENCES should be dealt with by your university or college in accordance with their own procedures. Students can file a complaint with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) once other avenues have been exhausted.
Of course, staff at universities and colleges across the UK work hard to ensure that their courses are well run and meet the highest standards and students are happy and satisfied. Various bodies monitor teaching quality and other aspects of the running of each institution.
Despite this, institutions recognise that there may be times when you have a grievance or complaint.
In seeking to address these issues, you should talk to subject staff at your institution in the first instance. Most institutions will also have a codified complaints procedure and you should refer to this to see how to progress any issues. As universities are autonomous institutions these procedures may vary from institution to institution.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE)
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The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) operates an independent student complaints scheme and can be approached once once other avenues of complaint have been exhausted.
The idea of an independent body to look into student complaints was initially developed in July 1997, when the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing, identified a need for institutions to review the way in which they handle complaints by students.
Following these committee reports, a consultation period took place in Autumn 2002 regarding the future of higher education and the resulting White Paper of January 2003, The Future of Higher Education, announced the government’s intention to establish an independent adjudicator for higher education, by legislation.
The OIA was established in July 2003 and commenced a voluntary student complaints scheme on 29 March 2004. Over 100 higher education institutions joined the voluntary scheme.
The Higher Education Act provided for the appointment of a designated operator of a student complaints scheme in England and Wales. The OIA is the designated operator of the Scheme with effect from 1 January 2005.
This means that anyone who was or is registered as a student at a participating higher education institution can complain about:- a programme of study or research for which he or she is or was registered; a service provided to him or her by a higher education institution; a final decision by a higher education institution’s disciplinary or appeal body; or a designated higher education institution programme validated or franchised by a higher education institution.
You can find out more on the OIA website, including which institutions are participating in the OIA Statutory Scheme at www.oiahe.org.uk.
Complaints against The University of Glasgow should now be referred to the Scottish Parliamentary Ombudsman. |
