About Us

Background

The Higher Education Act 2004 required the appointment of an independent body to run a student complaints scheme in England and Wales. The OIA was chosen to operate this scheme, to which all universities in England and Wales must subscribe. Our role is to review individual complaints by students against universities. We have no regulatory powers over universities and cannot punish or fine them.

The first Independent Adjudicator was Baroness Ruth Deech. The current Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive is Robert Behrens.