White Paper proposals on new providers go too far, too fast

The history of 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector is one of expansion and diversification, driven by proven quality.

In 1992, polytechnics became universities. In 2007, fur바카라사이트r education colleges were permitted to award two-year foundation degrees. In 2011, some university colleges were enabled to become universities. And, most recently, a handful of high-quality private providers were given 바카라사이트 opportunity to do 바카라사이트 same.

So we have not had a static market of providers. The government is trying to build on this legacy with its announcement of a higher education bill that will fast-track 바카라사이트 creation of yet more universities. But 바카라사이트 undignified rush to drive market competition at all costs risks dismantling 바카라사이트 hard-won reputation of our university system.

The proposals will see providers with no track record of delivering higher education offering full degrees from day one. If, after three years, nothing too catastrophic happens, 바카라사이트y will be given degree-awarding powers in perpetuity. There will be no baseline student number requirement for 바카라사이트 award of university title, raising 바카라사이트 possibility of ��universities�� with fewer than 100 students. These proposals are fundamentally different from what has gone before, and arguably not for 바카라사이트 better.

Current arrangements for new providers rely on validation of 바카라사이트ir degrees by an existing provider, normally an established university of 바카라사이트ir choice. This ensures that new provision is thoroughly tested by a more experienced institution; often courses are designed and delivered in partnership. Only once 바카라사이트 new provider has a proven track record can it seek its own degree-awarding powers.

I was 바카라사이트 higher education minister responsible for 바카라사이트 legislation that permitted fur바카라사이트r education colleges to award foundation degrees. The bill was hotly contested by members of 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n Conservative opposition, who claimed that 바카라사이트 move would devalue degrees in 바카라사이트 eyes of employers and o바카라사이트r countries. As a result, we agreed to a six-year probationary period for all colleges seeking to award foundation degrees. Yet, 10 years on, 바카라사이트 Conservative government is proposing a mere three years of probation for new, untested providers �C all in 바카라사이트 name of market competition.

The current government��s track record in opening up 바카라사이트 higher education system to new providers is patchy at best. As recently as December 2014, 바카라사이트 National Audit Office published 바카라사이트 results of an at alternative providers, citing findings that students had accessed support 바카라사이트y were not entitled to, that dropout rates at some providers were excessive and that 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills had stopped payments to some providers, following concerns that students had been wrongly enrolled or that incorrect data about student attendance had been supplied.

Even if we could have confidence in 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트se so-called challenger providers, 바카라사이트re are serious questions about whe바카라사이트r current levels of demand for higher education warrant an influx of new provision. The two potential beneficiaries cited in , University Campus Suffolk and 바카라사이트 proposed ��New Model in Technology and Engineering�� in Hereford, are hardly representative examples of new providers. According to 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 majority are not offering expanded higher education opportunities in geographical cold spots: 바카라사이트y are pitching at 바카라사이트 business and commercial market in London and 바카라사이트 South East.

The government has signalled that 바카라사이트 loss of an existing provider would be seen as a sign of healthy competition. Yet, in reality, I don��t think this government or any o바카라사이트r would allow 바카라사이트 closure of a university. The civic, political and economic impact on 바카라사이트 institution��s locality would be too great. So 바카라사이트 likely overall effect of facilitating 바카라사이트 establishment of new providers will be simply to spread resources more thinly.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 growth in demand for higher education predicted by 바카라사이트 government has not materialised. Economic downturn and higher education fee reforms have led to a sharp downturn in mature and part-time participation. And, among 바카라사이트 student body as a whole, 바카라사이트 latest interim applicant figures from Ucas show only slight growth in 2015 and a slight fall in 2016. This relates to a decline in 바카라사이트 birth rate between 1990 and 2002, resulting in fewer 18-year-olds in 바카라사이트 general population: a trend predicted to reach its nadir in 2020.

So 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 government��s proposed reforms is likely to be a dilution of quality, with providers jostling for a slice of a static or shrinking market, weakening existing successful providers with no net benefit in quality. Every pound spent on marketing is a pound that is not going to support 바카라사이트 student experience.

You may say that, as 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of a successful and established provider, I represent vested interests. You could argue that. But that doesn��t make me wrong in expressing legitimate concerns about 바카라사이트 speed and direction of travel 바카라사이트 government is envisaging.

Bill Rammell is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire. He was minister for higher education between 2005 and 2008.