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| Students awarded £400,000 compensation after complaints | Students awarded £400,000 compensation after complaints |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Universities in England and Wales paid £400,000 in compensation to students last year, following complaints. | Universities in England and Wales paid £400,000 in compensation to students last year, following complaints. |
| In 2014, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) ruled on 2,175 cases, with 200 students winning payouts. | In 2014, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) ruled on 2,175 cases, with 200 students winning payouts. |
| Disputes over academic issues such as degree classification or marks for work formed 61% of complaints. | Disputes over academic issues such as degree classification or marks for work formed 61% of complaints. |
| Universities UK said that two million students were covered by the system and the percentage of complaints was small. | Universities UK said that two million students were covered by the system and the percentage of complaints was small. |
| The OIA, an independent body which runs the students complaint system in England and Wales, found 59% of complaints were found unjustified, 14% ineligible for OIA intervention, while 5% were withdrawn. | The OIA, an independent body which runs the students complaint system in England and Wales, found 59% of complaints were found unjustified, 14% ineligible for OIA intervention, while 5% were withdrawn. |
| 'Thorough job' | 'Thorough job' |
| The OIA ruled in favour of 500 students or 23% of cases it looked into. | The OIA ruled in favour of 500 students or 23% of cases it looked into. |
| Cases where financial compensation was recommended included a dispute where a student missed part of an examination because of an administrative error by the university. | Cases where financial compensation was recommended included a dispute where a student missed part of an examination because of an administrative error by the university. |
| Another featured compensation for distress and inconvenience, caused by a lack of communication from a university dealing with a student's complaint about a course. | Another featured compensation for distress and inconvenience, caused by a lack of communication from a university dealing with a student's complaint about a course. |
| OIA chief executive Rob Behrens said: "Depending on the case, this may lead to the student being given a second chance to submit work or appeal against a decision, cancellation of a penalty imposed by a university, or financial compensation, which in 2014 reached almost £400,000. | OIA chief executive Rob Behrens said: "Depending on the case, this may lead to the student being given a second chance to submit work or appeal against a decision, cancellation of a penalty imposed by a university, or financial compensation, which in 2014 reached almost £400,000. |
| "As importantly, the report shows that, overall, universities are doing a thorough job in dealing with the majority of complaints fairly." | "As importantly, the report shows that, overall, universities are doing a thorough job in dealing with the majority of complaints fairly." |
| The number of complaints dealt with by the OIA has remained pretty steady, at about 2,000 during the past three years. | The number of complaints dealt with by the OIA has remained pretty steady, at about 2,000 during the past three years. |
| 'Demanding more' | 'Demanding more' |
| Salima Mawji, from Match Solicitors, has represented students in cases against universities. | |
| She said: "There is a very clear trend in students becoming more and more like consumers, particularly where they are paying £9,000 fees. | She said: "There is a very clear trend in students becoming more and more like consumers, particularly where they are paying £9,000 fees. |
| "They are aware that their education is critical to their future success and are therefore prepared to go out of their way to challenge injustices." | "They are aware that their education is critical to their future success and are therefore prepared to go out of their way to challenge injustices." |
| The legal firm is running free advice sessions in Birmingham Library, focusing on students' legal rights as they relate to education. | The legal firm is running free advice sessions in Birmingham Library, focusing on students' legal rights as they relate to education. |
| Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "The shift in England from public funding to increased fees means that students are understandably, and rightly, demanding more from their university courses. | Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, said: "The shift in England from public funding to increased fees means that students are understandably, and rightly, demanding more from their university courses. |
| "Universities are responding to this and are also improving the amount of information to students about courses to ensure that their experience matches their expectations. | "Universities are responding to this and are also improving the amount of information to students about courses to ensure that their experience matches their expectations. |
| "It is important to remember that the total number of complaints found to be justified or partly justified [500] represents a small percentage of the two million students covered by the scheme in England and Wales." | "It is important to remember that the total number of complaints found to be justified or partly justified [500] represents a small percentage of the two million students covered by the scheme in England and Wales." |
| Sexual harassment | Sexual harassment |
| The OIA report also said it had dealt with complaints from students involved in protests, who had been unhappy with the way their university had handled the situation. | The OIA report also said it had dealt with complaints from students involved in protests, who had been unhappy with the way their university had handled the situation. |
| And each year it received a small number of complaints from students who may be victims or alleged perpetrators in cases of sexual harassment and assault on campus. | And each year it received a small number of complaints from students who may be victims or alleged perpetrators in cases of sexual harassment and assault on campus. |
| It said: "It should be of concern to everyone working and studying in higher education that cases occur of unwanted physical contact, unwanted advances, initiation ceremonies, sexual innuendo and threats. | It said: "It should be of concern to everyone working and studying in higher education that cases occur of unwanted physical contact, unwanted advances, initiation ceremonies, sexual innuendo and threats. |
| "We have made, and providers have implemented, recommendations about improving support and strengthening processes to help students, and also staff, involved in such cases. | "We have made, and providers have implemented, recommendations about improving support and strengthening processes to help students, and also staff, involved in such cases. |
| "The OIA's role is not to judge the behaviour but to look at how the providers dealt with complaints or disciplinary cases." | "The OIA's role is not to judge the behaviour but to look at how the providers dealt with complaints or disciplinary cases." |
| Are you a student who has received compensation? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Are you a student who has received compensation? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
| If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are willing to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
| Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 | Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971 |