BNU calls for changes to boost sector-wide quality of franchise provision
Buckinghamshire New University and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) are today publishing a HEPI Debate Paper on the benefits and challenges of franchise provision in higher education, along with proposals that would lead to greater levels of assurance as to the quality and management of franchise provision within UK higher education.
What is wrong with franchise provision? has been co-written by Professor Nick Braisby, Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University; Professor Damien Page, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; and Ian Harper, the University’s Commercial and Business Development Director.
The paper outlines data and evidence, from across the higher education sector as well as from Buckinghamshire New University, which demonstrates the benefits of franchised provision as well as some of the challenges.
The paper considers what franchisors and franchisees might do differently to give greater assurance to stakeholders that the investment from the public purse provides value for students and society.
The key recommendations are that a new and robust sector-owned code of practice should be adopted by franchisors, and that the Office for Students should introduce a new section of its Register, backed up by light-touch, low-cost and timely regulation.
Professor Nick Braisby, Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University, said:
‘We see many benefits of franchise provision, not least widening participation, enhancing choice and flexibility for students and helping to level the playing field for higher education providers of all types. However, to give greater assurances to stakeholders, we believe franchise provision needs to be managed for the long-term and through collaborative relationships among franchisors and franchisees.
‘We propose a new and robust sector-owned code of conduct combined with a limited extension of regulation – light-touch, rapid and low-cost, enabling all franchisees to be registered. These kinds of change would see franchise provision thought of differently – not as a threat to the UK’s enviable reputation for quality, but as a different type of delivery model that enables more students to choose and succeed in higher education.’
Ian Harper, Commercial and Business Development Director said:
‘Franchise relationships require stability to improve quality outcomes and protect the student experience. Regulation cannot do this alone and therefore in the paper, we make the case for effective and close collaboration, where members of consortia work together, safeguarding the interests of students, funders, stakeholders and ultimately, the sector itself.
‘The future health of the sector relies on these collaborative relationships and will enable new entrants to establish themselves and importantly, assure the quality of their delivery.’
Nick Hillman, Director of HEPI, said:
‘Franchised higher education can be good for students, as it is often provided locally and can be especially appealing to first-in-family students. For some people, the choice is franchised provision or no higher education. That is why there is such a long history of partnership arrangements in UK higher education.
‘It is in no one’s interests for franchised provision to fall below par. Any concerns about quality are best addressed via risk-based and proportionate regulation. This important new paper shows what a sensible and updated regulatory model could look like today.’
Professor Damien Page, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at BNU said:
‘As a sector, widening participation should always be one of our main priorities and the potential of franchise partners to achieve this purpose is crucial. Instead of problematising franchise provision, we need to focus on how we can improve quality across partnerships and this code of practice is a significant step towards that aim.’
Read the full debate paper here.