The Higher Education Policy Institute and Buckinghamshire New
University 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 written
by Professor Nick Braisby (Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New
University), Ian Harper (Commercial and Business Development
Director of Buckinghamshire New University) and Professor Damien
Page (Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University).
The paper outlines data and evidence, from across the higher
education sector as well as from Buckinghamshire New University,
which shows the benefits of franchised provision as well as some
of the challenges.
The authors ask 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, co-author of the report and
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, co-author of the report and Commercial and
Business Development Director at Buckinghamshire New University,
said:
‘Franchise relationships require stability in order to improve
quality outcomes and to protect the student experience.
Regulation cannot do this alone and so in the paper we make the
case for effective and close collaboration where members of
consortia work together, effectively 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, the quality of their delivery.’
, 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.’
