Reports and Policies

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator for Higher Education in the UK, its role is to work with higher education providers to make sure that students access, succeed and progress beyond higher education.

As part of our registration requirements with the OfS, Access and Participation Plans set out the University’s strategy for continued investment in activities to ensure equality of opportunity in access, success and progression in Higher Education for all underrepresented groups.

The University will continue its long-standing commitment to:

• Widening participation and fair access by investing in increasing its intake of undergraduate students from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. The University works with schools and colleges to improve the achievement of children and young people, and raise awareness of and aspiration to Higher Education (HE)

• Delivering high quality learning and teaching and the provision of support services to include, retain and develop successful learners who may have diverse characteristics
   
• Supporting students throughout their time at University and beyond, underpinning our commitment to their progression by providing opportunities to enhance their readiness for  graduate employment or further postgraduate level of study.

Significant investment has been made in these areas over the years, including financial support, as part of our commitment to the Office for Students (OfS), previously Office For Fair Access (OFFA), and our approved Access and Participation Plans​ which set out the University's plans for continued investment in activities to ensure fair access, student success and progression for students from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds.​

• An accessible summary of the plan 2024-2028
• Access and Participation Plan 2024-2028
• An accessible summary of the plan 2023-24
• Access and Participation Plan for academic year 2023-24
• Access and Participation Plan for academic year 2022-23
• Access and Participation Plan for academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22
• Access and Participation Plan for academic year 2019-20
• Provider Fee Information for 2023-24
• 2019-20 Access and Participation Plan Monitoring Provider Impact Report

Any Access Agreements prior to 2019/20 can be accessed directly from the Office for Students (OfS) website.

We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

1. Policy Statement

1.1 Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms, such as slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking, all of which have in common the deprivation of a person’s liberty by another in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our own business or in any of our supply chains.

1.2 We are also committed to ensuring there is transparency in our own business and in our approach to tackling modern slavery throughout our supply chains, consistent with our disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We expect the same high standards from all of our contractors, suppliers and other business partners, and as part of our contracting processes, we include specific prohibitions against the use of forced, compulsory or trafficked labour, or anyone held in slavery or servitude, whether adults or children, and we expect that our suppliers will hold their own suppliers to the same high standards.

1.3 This policy applies to all persons working for us or on our behalf in any capacity, including employees at all levels, directors, officers, agency workers, seconded workers, volunteers, interns, agents, contractors, external consultants, third-party representatives and business partners.

1.4 This policy does not form part of any employee’s contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.

2. Responsibility for the policy

2.1 The University Council has overall responsibility for ensuring this policy complies with our legal and ethical obligations, and that all those under our control comply with it.

2.2 The Chief Financial Officer has primary and day-to-day responsibility for implementing this policy, monitoring its use and effectiveness, dealing with any queries about it, and auditing internal control systems and procedures to ensure they are effective in countering modern slavery.

2.3 Management at all levels are responsible for ensuring those reporting to them understand and comply with this policy and are given adequate and regular training on it and the issue of modern slavery in supply chains.

3. Compliance

3.1 You must ensure that you read, understand and comply with this policy.

3.2 The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control. You are required to avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, a breach of this policy.

3.3 You must notify your manager as soon as possible if you believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred, or may occur in the future.

3.4 You are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of modern slavery in any parts of our business or supply chains of any supplier tier at the earliest possible stage.

3.5 If you believe or suspect a breach of this policy has occurred or that it may occur, you must notify your manager or report it in accordance with our Public Interest Disclosure Policy as soon as possible.

3.6 If you are unsure about whether a particular act, the treatment of workers more generally, or their working conditions within any tier of our supply chains constitutes any of the various forms of modern slavery, raise it with your manager.

3.7 We aim to encourage openness and will support anyone who raises genuine concerns in good faith under this policy, even if they turn out to be mistaken. We are committed to ensuring no one suffers any detrimental treatment as a result of reporting in good faith their suspicion that modern slavery of whatever form is or may be taking place in any part of our own business or in any of our supply chains. Detrimental treatment includes dismissal, disciplinary action, threats or other unfavourable treatment connected with raising a concern. If you believe that you have suffered any such treatment, you should inform your manager immediately. If the matter is not remedied, and you are an employee, you should raise it formally following our Grievance Policy and Procedure.

4. Communication and awareness of this policy

4.1 Training on this policy, and on the risk our business faces from modern slavery in its supply chains, forms part of the induction process for all individuals who work for us, and regular training will be provided as necessary.

4.2 Our commitment to addressing the issue of modern slavery in our business and supply chains must be communicated to all suppliers, contractors and business partners at the outset of our business relationship with them and reinforced as appropriate thereafter.

5. Breaches of this policy

5.1 Any employee who breaches this policy will face disciplinary action, which could result in dismissal for misconduct or gross misconduct.

5.2 We may terminate our relationship with other individuals and organisations working on our behalf if they breach this policy.

 

Professor EA Simmons
Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Date: 28th November 2023

• Gender Pay Gap Report (2021)

I confirm that the information published in this report is accurate.
Rashmi Patel, Strategic Director of Human Resources, University of Chester

• Gender Pay Gap Report 2018 - 2019
• Gender Pay Gap Report 2017 - 2018
• Gender Pay Gap Report 2016 - 2017

How the £9,250 tuition fee is spent 2020-21

The Student Protection Plan sets out the measures we have in place to protect you as our student in the unlikely event that a risk to the continuation of your studies should arise. The plan is required by and approved by the Office for Students as the regulator of the higher education sector.

1. An assessment of the range of risks to the continuation of study for your students, how those risks may differ based on your students’ needs, characteristics and circumstances, and the likelihood that those risks will crystallise

Institutional

The University has a robust approach in place for risk management at institutional level. The University regularly reviews its risk register via the University’s Strategic Executive Team and the University Council’s Audit and Risk Committee.

We consider the risk that the University as a whole is unable to operate is extremely low. The University’s financial statements and associated annual reporting demonstrate good financial management and performance. The University’s auditors have agreed the financial statements without qualification. The University continues actively to monitor compliance with all requirements, covenants and conditions set by lenders.

Programme Changes and Withdrawals

Through its Portfolio Development and Management Committee, the University regularly reviews its academic portfolio to ensure that programmes are current, accord with demand and are of high quality. The risk of the University withdrawing any programme or subject area with immediate effect is low, as the University has established planning and quality management processes in place to ensure continuation of study for current students until they complete.

Loss of UKVI Student Visa Licence to Sponsor International Students

The risk of loss of the University’s UK Home Office Visa & Immigration (UKVI) sponsor licence is assessed as low. The University has robust immigration compliance procedures in place, overseen by the University’s Legal and Compliance Office and International Centre. These procedures are subject to regular internal audit by the University’s externally contracted internal audit service.

Loss of Key Staff

The risk that the University is unable to deliver a programme or to supervise postgraduate research students due to the unexpected departure of key members of academic staff is assessed as low. As a large provider of taught programmes the University ensures through its business planning and quality processes for Faculties that there is appropriate staffing in place to deliver the curriculum. The University’s management of its large staffing complement means that the loss of individuals can be managed in both the short and longer term to ensure students’ continuation of studies. In the case of postgraduate research students, established procedures are in place to ensure continuity of supervision for students in the event of staff changes.

Loss of Sites, Buildings or Facilities

We consider the risk of closure of the University’s main delivery sites (Chester, Warrington, Birkenhead and Shrewsbury) to be low overall but low/medium in relation to Shrewsbury. Provision in Chester and Warrington is long-established, with provision at Warrington successfully relocating from an out-of-town to a town-centre site during 2021/22. Provision at Shrewsbury is developed in partnership with Shropshire Council and is supported by other regional stakeholders. The University is in the process of negotiating extended lease provisions with Shropshire Council for the Shrewsbury Campus and it is anticipated that this will be successful with a focused strategic approach to the provision at Shrewsbury to fully reflect the needs of the local communities. Once the negotiations have concluded the University anticipates that the risk will revert to low, however in the interim and in the interests of good governance, further responsible mitigations have been explored and cited below under “Loss of sites, buildings or facilities”.

Provision at Birkenhead is focussed in a dedicated health and nursing education facility which has been operating since September 2018 and is now well established. There is a reasonable possibility that the University would have to temporarily close a building or facility due to a major incident, fire or other damage or health and safety issues. The University has business continuity procedures in place to manage such an eventuality, which were tested and further developed during the Covid pandemic. In the event of a building or facility being unavailable or unsuitable, the University has an extensive estate which would be utilised to make alternative provision. The University therefore considers the risk of a building or facility closure materially affecting the continuation of a student’s study to be low.

Loss of Professional, Statutory and Regulatory (PSRB) or Government Accreditation

The University works in partnership with Professional Statutory Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) and has a long and successful track record of securing and sustaining accreditation for its programmes. The University also holds Government accreditation for its teaching and apprenticeship provision. There is seen to be a low risk of the loss of accreditation. In the event that an accreditation was lost, the University would work with the PSRB or relevant Government department to secure the option wherever possible to teach out current students with no impact to their accreditation.

Industrial Action

The University considers that the risk of a student’s study being disrupted due to industrial action is normally low, as the University has well-established employee relations. However events at sector and national level beyond the University control may lead to periods of industrial action which could impact students, either within the University or within key partners such as the NHS.

Provision Delivered by Partners

The University manages relationships with partner providers proactively and monitors quality assurance and similar matters closely. The University seeks to ensure through the contractual arrangements with partner providers that partners provide similar levels of protection to students. Where partner delivery is via a sub-contractual arrangement the University will work closely with the relevant provider to ensure that suitable protections and mitigations are in place.

2. The measures that you have put in place to mitigate those risks that you consider to be reasonably likely to crystallise

1. Programme Changes and Withdrawals

The University will always take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of taught programme changes and withdrawals. In the event that a significant risk cannot be adequately mitigated, the University would undertake (and has an established record of undertaking) the following actions:

• Where a programme of study or discipline area is withdrawn, the University may ‘teach out’ a programme to enable current students to complete their period of study.
• Students may be offered alternative provision within the University or a modified version of their programme of study.
• Students would be supported to identify and transfer to similar provision at another provider, in consultation with affected students.
• Liaising regularly with partners to ensure that the above actions or equivalent arrangements are in place and implemented as required.

2. Loss of key staff

Our programmes are taught by integrated teams of academic staff, so we would not normally expect the departure of a single individual to impact on core programme delivery. In the event of the unanticipated departure of a key member of staff, the University would look to replace that member of staff through either external appointment or through internal redeployment as soon as possible. In the immediate term, we would consider the moving of other suitably qualified staff to cover teaching commitments.

All postgraduate research students are provided with a supervisory team of appropriately qualified academics, with established procedures in place to ensure continuity of supervision for students. In the event of a member of the supervisory team leaving, continuity of supervision would be ensured in the immediate term by the other team members. If required, additional supervisory team members would be added and/or an external supervisor would be appointed to ensure that the affected student(s) are able to complete.

3. Loss of sites, buildings or facilities

In the event of a site, building or facility being temporarily unavailable, the University would initially seek to relocate that provision to another site or building within the University estate, or to revise students’ timetables to ensure that teaching can take place at another suitable time. If necessary, the University would look to hire additional space. Where appropriate, the University may consider offering transport to students to the alternative location or reimbursing additional travel expenses. The University would consult with affected students and with the Students’ Union in assessing and mitigating impact. Where postgraduate research activities are significantly affected, students would be advised and supported regarding extensions to study as and where appropriate.

The University would also draw on established business continuity procedures as appropriate, for example, in the event of a building flood or fire. A specific flood risk plan is in place in the event of disruption at University Centre Shrewsbury.

4. Loss of PSRB or Government accreditation

In the event that external accreditation of a programme is removed, the University would make reasonable efforts to identify an alternative accrediting body. For programmes where external accreditation is mandatory for progressing to a specific profession (for example Nursing, Social Work, Law, Teaching), the University would consult with students to identify and facilitate transfer to an alternative provider.

5. Industrial action

In the event of industrial action by University staff, we would seek to minimise disruption and manage such a situation in accordance with the principles and processes agreed by the University’s Education Committee. If industrial action is prolonged, we would put in place appropriate measures to ensure that students were not disadvantaged by such action. This could include rearranging missed classes or providing a suitable alternative to ensure that learning objectives are still fulfilled, and/or reviewing assessments to account for any topics missed or disrupted.

In the event of industrial action by a placement provider, the University would work closely with that provider to minimise disruption to students and to rearrange or compensate for any missed placement hours.

6. Collaborative Partners

Should the University consider a collaborative arrangement no longer viable, we might end the agreement for financial or educational reasons. In some circumstances our partner institutions may no longer offer courses to students registered with them or may be unable to do so.

If the partnership ends for whatever reason, we will discontinue student recruitment immediately by the partner to the courses concerned. Our agreements with our partners include a requirement for the partner to teach-out a course when the agreement ends. Some of our partners will be registered with the Office for Students and will have their own Student Protection Plans in place.

Should a partner institution not teach out the course, the University will take all reasonable steps to protect the students’ interests. In managing risks to students completing their studies, the University considers all of the circumstances including the number of students on the course and the point reached in their studies. We look at why the partner is unable to continue to provide the course. We will identify the options available through discussions with the partner and consultation with students wherever possible.

Examples of the action the University might take include:

• supporting the partner in the teach-out for a reasonable period until all current students completed the course;
• investigating, in conjunction with the partner, the possibility of an alternative provider continuing to teach out the course, or with the student’s agreement transferring to a similar course with the alternative provider;
• where feasible, offering the students a transfer to the equivalent course at the University.

3. Information about the policy you have in place to refund tuition fees and other relevant costs to your students and to provide compensation where necessary in the event that you are no longer able to preserve continuation of study

Our approach to offering refunds is set out in our Student Enrolment Conditions and in our Withdrawals Policy. We do not have a fixed policy with regard to offering compensation. Rather, we consider cases on their individual merits through our Student Complaints Process.

The University also has Business Interruption insurance in place to insure against the financial impact of a major incident. This would enable the University to set up alternative arrangements in light of such an incident and to provide additional student support as appropriate.

4. Information about how you will communicate with students about your student protection plan

The University’s Student Protection Plan is available on the University website and on our intranet (Portal), alongside the University’s Student Enrolment Conditions and associated information. Current and prospective students are signposted to the Plan via communications about our Student Enrolment Conditions during application, enrolment and re-enrolment.

The University’s initial Student Protection Plan was developed in consultation with the Chester Students’ Union and with the input of our Student Voice and Experience Committee. It is now reviewed on an annual basis, including consultation with the Chester Students’ Union. The Student Protection Plan is approved by the Strategic Executive Team and by the University Senate.

Members of the University’s Portfolio Development and Management Committee (PDMC), a senior committee which reports to Senate, consider the Student Protection Plan on an annual basis as part of the committee’s established schedule of business. This ensures that student protection measures are routinely considered as part of portfolio review.

In the event that the University was required to implement its Student Protection Plan, affected students would be given as much notice as reasonably possible in open meetings of affected cohorts and in writing. We would then take students’ views in response into account and take reasonable steps to minimise any significant adverse effects, through implementation of the actions noted above alongside appropriate advice and support from University services and academic departments The University would also signpost students to the Chester Students’ Union Advice Centre for independent advice.

Download an alternative format (pdf):  CHESTER Student Protection Plan 

 

This information shows the number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us.

It shows these numbers by reference to:

• The gender of the individuals to which they relate
• Their ethnicity
• Their socioeconomic background

This data, which all universities are required to publish by the Office for Students, highlights issues which are of interest to the Higher Education sector as a whole and which the University of Chester is helping to address in its Access and Participation Plan.

The University’s Access and Participation Plan sets out detailed measures by which the University is addressing locally issues of differential access and attainment in the higher education sector.

For more information visit the University’s Access and Participation plan page.

Table 1a: Percentage of classified first degrees at grade 2:1 or above by characteristic for 2021-22 qualifiers

Key

Table 1b provides further detailed information on classifications awarded by characteristics for 2020-21 qualifiers and is included in the download below.

Download

University of Chester - Transparency 2023 information.xlsx