At the OIA's open meeting this morning to present its 2011 annual report, confirmation was given of the increasing number of student complaints being made to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.  The annual report gives details of a 20% increase in complaints and enquiries to the OIA. However, those lodging complaints (1,605) represent a small percentage of the overall student population in higher education in England and Wales. It was emphasised at the meeting that universities should not be troubled by dealing with students' concerns and the emphasis should be on improving procedures when issues arise. The Government's response to the consultation on the White Paper ('Students at the Heart of the System')and the Technical Consultation on the regulatory framework endorsed the work of the OIA and its commitment to being an independent body.