Franchising in Higher Education Conference 2025

Tuesday 11th February 2025
9:30 am - 3:20pm
Virtual Conference

The Franchising in Higher Education Conference 2025 will explore how universities can effectively manage risk in subcontractual arrangements with robust oversight, governance and quality control to support successful course delivery and student outcomes with delivery partners.

The Conference will explore:

  • How lead providers can match the regulatory expectations on franchised provision

  • The tools for supporting high quality oversight and governance of delivery partners

  • Approaches to managing risk in subcontractual arrangements

  • Practical insights in support quality enhancement and monitoring course delivery

Why attend the conference?

Benchmark your franchised provision against regulatory expectations

Gain the tools to improve delivery outcomes for subcontractual partnerships

Learn from leading providers developing new approaches to risk mitigation

Agenda

09:30 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

Professor Julie Brunton
Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Student Experience
University of Bedfordshire (CONFIRMED)

9:40 am

Managing Risk in Franchised Partnerships – Insights from the UUK Franchise Governance Framework

This session will explore how institutions can use UUK’s franchise governance framework to:

  • Improve governance of franchised provision 

  • Identify and reduce risk from the start to the end of a franchised partnership

  • Deliver value for money by being able to identify risk to public funds through stronger oversight

Sandra Binns
Policy Advisor
Universities UK (CONFIRMED)

10:10 am

What Can We Learn from Commercial Franchising?

There are many parallels between subcontracting arrangements in the higher education sector with commercial approaches to franchising. So, what makes a successful model for subcontracting and how can universities learn from commercial organisations in delivering robust contractual governance? This session will explore key insights on:

  • Managing quality control

  • Performance monitoring

  • Designing operational and delivery guidelines

  • A framework for governance and oversight

  • Reporting and data quality

  • Safeguarding your brand and reputation

Scott Oxley
Senior Associate
Pinsent Masons (CONFIRMED)

10:40 am

Auditing Franchise Partnerships - How to Strengthen Internal Controls

William Simpson
Risk Assurance Associate Director
RSM UK (CONFIRMED)

11:00 am

Break and Networking

11:20 am

Workshop: A Sector-wide Approach to Operating Franchising – Utilising the UK Quality Code to Enhance Practice

This workshop will examine how the UK Quality Code can be utilised to reflect on practice and promote enhancement in the operation and delivery of franchised provision. 

As a UK-wide sector led reference point the Code offers shared expectations of what providers should expect of themselves and each other. QAA is in the process of developing the advice and guidance that underpins Sector-Agreed Principle 8 - Operating Partnerships with Other Organisations.

This workshop will offer the opportunity to feed into the development of this guidance and explore how the Code can be used as the basis for driving improvements in subcontractual arrangements.

Helena Vine
Lead Policy Officer (England)
QAA (CONFIRMED)

Ruth Burchell
Quality and Standards Specialist
QAA (CONFIRMED)

12:00 pm

Managing Risk in Franchised Provision in Practice: A Case Study

This deep-dive case study will examine what risk management looks like in practice and how the University of East London (UEL) have developed their approach to supporting successful outcomes through franchise partnerships. The session will explore:

  • How initial risk assessment and due diligence is managed for new partnerships

  • The development of a legal framework and robust approach to contract design

  • Embedding successful governance procedures into the management of all franchised delivery

  • The approach at UEL to continuous monitoring and reporting against agreed standards

Diane Glautier
Associate Director for Academic Partnerships and Global Engagement
University of East London (CONFIRMED)

David Mackrory
Assistant Head of Academic Partnerships and Global Engagement
University of East London (CONFIRMED)

12:40 pm

Break and Networking

1:30 pm

The Voice of Franchise Partners: What Do We Need for Success?

  • Understanding the shape of the academic partnership market and how it is evolving

  • What do delivery partners need from lead institutions to support successful outcomes?

  • When do academic partnerships work (and what interventions are needed for those that don’t?)

  • How can market oversight, greater transparency and improved regulation drive enhancement?

Alex Proudfoot
Chief Executive
Independent Higher Education (invited)

2:10 pm

Reviewing Academic Partnerships: What Did We Learn? How Do We Drive Enhancement?

In February 2024, the OfS launched an investigation into subcontractual partnerships at Leeds Trinity University. This session will examine:

  • How Leeds Trinity collaborated with the OfS to demonstrate compliance

  • How the university responded to concerns and managed a review of academic partnerships

  • What a future approach to managing quality on courses delivered by franchise partners will look like

Professor Jayne Mitchell
Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Provost (interim)
Leeds Trinity University (CONFIRMED)

2:40 pm

In Conversation: Managing Effective Oversight of Subcontractual Provision Across the Student Journey

  • Examining the student recruitment process, the role of agents and how lead partners can ensure compliance with consumer protection law

  • Managing effective data collection and sharing on student attendance and outcomes

  • Assessing how teaching is delivered and how students engage with learning from delivery partners

  • Auditing subcontractual courses against OfS requirements on student outcomes

  • Understanding the experience of students and managing concerns and complaints

Marion Stuart-Hoyle
Director of UK Partnerships and Apprenticeships Unit
Canterbury Christ Church University (CONFIRMED)

Angela Hind
Head of UK Partnerships
University of Wolverhampton (invited)

Polly Derbyshire
Head of Academic Delivery (Partnerships)
Bath Spa University (invited)

3:20 pm

Conference Close

*Programme subject to change

Audience

This Conference is designed for all higher education providers interested in franchised provision. Those in attendance will include:

  • 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

  • Heads of Governance

  • Heads of Quality Assurance

  • Heads of Faculty or Department

  • Heads of Policy

  • Partnership Managers

  • Senior Lecturers

Secure Your Ticket

HE and Public Sector

£195 + VAT

Private Sector

£395 + VAT

For group discounts and enquiries about your registration please contact us on enquiries@heprofessional.co.uk