Wednesday 10th July 2024
9:30am - 3:10pm
Virtual Conference
The Franchising in Higher Education Conference 2024 will explore the future of the academic partnerships market, how lead providers can mitigate risk and support successful collaboration that meets expectations on quality and student outcomes.
Attendees will gain the latest insights following the National Audit Office investigation into the franchise market and the developing Office for Students investigations into sub-contracted provision. The Conference will allow providers to consider solutions on how they can drive quality delivery, ensure robust risk assurance and support impactful oversight with franchised providers.
Objectives
Explore the state of the franchise market in higher education
Gain insights on how to manage risk and support effective governance of franchised provision
Evaluate how to meet the expectations of the OfS and QAA in ensuring quality with franchised providers
Assess how to enhance collaboration with external academic partners to improve student outcomes
Headline Speakers
Philippa Pickford
Director of Regulation
Office for Students
Emma Willson
Director, Education Value for Money
National Audit Office (NAO)
Alex Proudfoot
Chief Executive
Independent Higher Education
Bobby Upple
Head of Educational Partnerships
De Montfort University
Catherine-Maria King
Interim Assistant Head of Academic Partnerships and Global Engagement
University of East London
Agenda
9:30 am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Professor Niamh Downing
Pro Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience
Canterbury Christ Church University (CONFIRMED)
9:40 am
Building Stronger Governance and Oversight of Franchised Providers – Recommendations from the NAO
Based on the NAO’s investigation into student finance at franchised providers, this session will consider the steps necessary to reduce risk in the market, with a focus on:
Responsibilities of lead providers on governance and assurance practices
Assessing risk and value for money from franchised providers
Approaches to transparency and recognising anomalies
A structure for oversight and anti-fraud measures in the sector
Emma Willson
Director, Education Value for Money
National Audit Office (NAO) (CONFIRMED)
10:10 am
OfS Update: The Regulatory Approach to Monitoring Franchising and Subcontracting
Managing risks on student outcomes at franchised providers as the market grows
The approach to investigations for an institution that utilises franchised provision
Monitoring B3 outcomes and how delivery partners support continuation, completion and progression
Philippa Pickford
Director of Regulation
Office for Students (CONFIRMED)
10:40 am
Break and Networking
11:00 am
Franchise Provision: The Good, The Bad and The Need for Reform
Where franchising is supporting a thriving sector in driving widening participation, supporting reach to new localities and facilitating market entry
The challenges on student outcomes and quality in the franchise market
Managing risk and approaches to quality assurance for lead providers
Exploring next steps for robust oversight of franchise provision
Professor Damien Page
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Buckinghamshire New University (CONFIRMED)
11:30 am
The State of Academic Partnerships: A Sector Wide Review
Outlining findings from a review of the academic partnerships market, this session will consider:
The demand for academic partnerships and the role they play for lead institutions
Challenges on entry and exit from the market for new providers
Next steps for improved regulatory oversight and removing the ‘blind spots’ in the franchise market
What well managed collaborations look like and how partnerships can be more impactful
Approaches to ensure quality and value for money in franchised provision
Alex Proudfoot
Chief Executive
Independent Higher Education (CONFIRMED)
12:00 pm
Break and Networking
12:40 pm
Panel Discussion: A Collaborative Approach to Enhancing Student Outcomes with Franchised Providers
Developing approaches to partnered review that identifies gaps in provision and supports success on B3 metrics
Assessing how lead institutions can support new market entrants to enhance provision through shared practice
Exploring the components of a successful partnership and what works in driving improved student outcomes
Bobby Upple
Head of Educational Partnerships
De Montfort University (CONFIRMED)
Catherine-Maria King
Interim Assistant Head of Academic Partnerships and Global Engagement
University of East London (CONFIRMED)
Dr Lorna Thomas
Director of Partnerships
Christ Church Business School, Canterbury Christ Church University (CONFIRMED)
Claire O’Leary
Director of Partnerships and Relationships
College of Medicine and Dentistry (CONFIRMED)
Scott Isaacs
Head of Academic Partnerships
University of Hertfordshire (CONFIRMED)
1:30 pm
Panel Discussion: Supporting Robust Oversight, Risk Assurance and Governance of Academic Partnerships
Building a model for risk assurance and monitoring with franchised partners
Enhancing governance and oversight mechanisms to ensure successful delivery
Examining approaches to intervention when a partner fails to meet requirements
Assessing how to develop transparency and accountability in how education partnerships perform
Rachel Nicholson
Head of Institution
Academy of Live Technology (CONFIRMED)
Nicolas Decourt
Head of Educational Partnerships
Oxford Brookes University (invited)
Dr Giles Proctor
CEO
The College of Legal Practice (invited)
2:10 pm
Break and Networking
2:30 pm
Panel Discussion: Meeting Expectations on Quality through Franchised Provision
Ensuring quality in teaching and learning matches the QAA Quality code
Enhancing procedures for the oversight of quality in partner provision
Approaches for supporting alignment on academic standards and objectives between the awarding organisation and franchise partner
Managing partnerships where quality expectations are not met
Rob Stroud
Director of Assessment Services and Access to HE
QAA (CONFIRMED)
Hannah Jackson
Head of Partnership
University of East Anglia (invited)
Alison Webster
Head of Quality Assurance
University of Kent (invited)
Conference Close
3:10 pm
* Programme subject to change
Audience
This event is open to higher education providers and those at all levels. Those in attendance will include:
Heads of Governance
Heads of Quality Assurance
Heads of Faculty or Department
Heads of Policy
Partnership Managers
Senior Lecturers
Directors of Partnership
Commercial and Business Development Directors
Pro Vice Chancellors
Directors of Teaching and Learning
Directors of Student Success
Head of Legal, Governance, and Risk Management
Heads of Educational Partnerships
Pricing
Public Sector
£345 + VAT
Attendance to Franchising in HE 2024
Private Sector
£395 + VAT
Attendance to Franchising in HE 2024
HE Professional
£395 + VAT
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