Universities?will?have to publish how much they earn from franchise partnerships?under new plans from the?English regulator, which has warned that some institutions are still mismanaging these arrangements.

?(OfS) has proposed that providers with more than 100 students registered on their subcontractual courses?would?be required to ¡°maintain a single comprehensive source¡± of information that sets out their policies and procedures relating to their partnerships.

Institutions may also have to be ¡°more transparent¡± about the nature of the partnerships and the ¡°flow¡± of money to each partner, the regulator said, as part of a new condition of registration.

Currently, little is known about how much income universities generate from franchise arrangements as it is?rarely listed separately in annual accounts.

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Following a ¡°rapid expansion¡± of subcontracted courses in recent years, the regulator said it is concerned about the ¡°significant risks¡± for students and taxpayers.?

Earlier this year,?further evidence emerged?of fake students and private providers abusing the student finance system, with loans being taken out by individuals with no intention of studying. At the time, the government vowed to crack down on abuse in the system.

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The?Department for Education?also announced in January that franchised higher education providers with more than 300 students on their books will be?required to register with the OfS.

Buckinghamshire New 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ, which previously had the most franchise students of any provider, has since committed to?reducing its reliance on subcontractual partnerships, cutting ties with multiple partners.?

However, the OfS has accused some institutions of continuing to mismanage these arrangements.?

¡°We¡¯ve been warning of the significant risks associated with subcontractual partnerships for some time,¡± said Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS.?

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¡°Yet we¡¯re still receiving intelligence suggesting that some of these courses are not being properly managed by the lead university.

¡°We¡¯ve also seen evidence of vulnerable students being recruited to courses and encouraged to apply for student loans, without having any realistic prospect of meaningful engagement with their course or benefiting from higher education,¡± she continued.?

¡°It¡¯s essential that we take action now to protect students and taxpayers from poor practice in this part of the sector.¡±

In consultation documents, the OfS says that, as well as questions over student loan abuse, other concerns stem from ¡°inadequate controls over student recruitment, particularly where subcontractual arrangements disproportionately recruit students who may have limited access to independent advice and guidance about their higher education choices¡±.?

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¡°Our experience suggests that these issues occur more frequently in subcontractual provision than in other parts of the sector,¡± the document says. ¡°These concerns have increased both in frequency and in severity in recent years.¡±

The regulator¡¯s proposals to tighten control of these partnerships are now out for consultation.

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¡°We know that many universities already have appropriate measures in place to ensure these courses meet the needs and expectations of students,¡± said Lapworth. ¡°Our proposals would codify this existing work and make sure all lead providers consistently deliver the high standards needed to protect students and public money.¡±

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com