Office of the Independent Adjudicator
Encyclopedia
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) is a body that handles students' complaints against universities within England and Wales Higher Education
(HE). Their remit is limited to those complaints that have first been taken through the procedures of a Higher Education institution's own internal system without reaching a satisfactory conclusion in the view of the complainant. All complaints to the OIA must be made within three months of the conclusion of the internal investigation by the Higher Education institution, which should usually have resulted in issue of a Completion of Procedures Letter.
The OIA is the operator of the students complaint scheme as established in the Higher Education Act 2004. The OIA has effectively taken on board the powers of the visitor
of an Higher Education Institution as student complaints were specifically excluded from the remit of the visitor in the Higher Education Act 2004. All Higher Education bodies are required to abide by the rules of the scheme.
in 2003 set out the government goal of establishing the body via legislation. The OIA was established in 2003 and began running a voluntary scheme in 2004 with it becoming the designated operator of the student complaints scheme in 2005.
Prior to the establishment of the OIA, universities offered internal processes there was a widespread belief that these were frequently ineffective and often perceived by students as impractical. A consequence has been a marked improvement in universities' own internal complaints systems in order to reach satisfactory conclusions without need for appeal to the OIA.
. Following her retirement in May 2008, Robert Behrens was appointed Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
(HE). Their remit is limited to those complaints that have first been taken through the procedures of a Higher Education institution's own internal system without reaching a satisfactory conclusion in the view of the complainant. All complaints to the OIA must be made within three months of the conclusion of the internal investigation by the Higher Education institution, which should usually have resulted in issue of a Completion of Procedures Letter.
The OIA is the operator of the students complaint scheme as established in the Higher Education Act 2004. The OIA has effectively taken on board the powers of the visitor
Visitor
A Visitor, in United Kingdom law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous ecclesiastical or eleemosynary institution , who can intervene in the internal affairs of that institution...
of an Higher Education Institution as student complaints were specifically excluded from the remit of the visitor in the Higher Education Act 2004. All Higher Education bodies are required to abide by the rules of the scheme.
History
As a result of recommendations from the Nolan and Dearing reports consultations on an independent body for students to make complaints to began. A White PaperWhite paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
in 2003 set out the government goal of establishing the body via legislation. The OIA was established in 2003 and began running a voluntary scheme in 2004 with it becoming the designated operator of the student complaints scheme in 2005.
Prior to the establishment of the OIA, universities offered internal processes there was a widespread belief that these were frequently ineffective and often perceived by students as impractical. A consequence has been a marked improvement in universities' own internal complaints systems in order to reach satisfactory conclusions without need for appeal to the OIA.
Remit
The OIA's looks at a wide range of procedural issues but it does not adjudicate on academic issues. It functions by a transparent process, seeking information from both complainant and the Higher Education Institution and allowing each party to comment. Results can include payment of compensation from the Higher Education Institution where the complaint is upheld and so far compensation payments have exceeded £700,000 with the largest single award being £45,000. The Independent Adjudicator is required to report to the Board and publish in his Annual Report any non-compliance with Recommendations by a University.The Independent Adjudicator
The first Independent Adjudicator was Baroness Ruth DeechRuth Deech, Baroness Deech
Ruth Lynn Deech, Baroness Deech, DBE is a British academic, lawyer and bioethicist, most noted for chairing the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority , from 1994 to 2002...
. Following her retirement in May 2008, Robert Behrens was appointed Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive.