University fined over 'failures' in quality checks

Leeds Trinity University has been fined more than £100,000 by England's higher education regulator for failing to effectively address risks associated with its franchised courses.

- by Charles Brown

An investigation by the Office for Students (OfS) identified "serious failures" in the arrangements the university had in place to oversee its subcontractual partnershipsmore commonly known as franchised providers.

The £115,000 penalty comes after the watchdog previously warned it would intervene when the use of franchised providers - external organisations that operate in partnership with registered universities to deliver courses on their behalf-placed the interests of students or taxpayers "at risk".