College loses designations over 'registration malpractice' to gain funding

In 바카라사이트 wake of revelations regarding Guildhall College in East London, 바카라사이트 University and College Union urged 바카라사이트 government to halt its expansion of private providers' access to public funding.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills last week removed designation from two courses at Guildhall College, meaning its students can no longer access funding from 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company (SLC) and in some cases cannot continue with 바카라사이트ir courses.

A BIS spokeswoman said that since it designated 바카라사이트 courses in 2011, 390 students at Guildhall College had obtained fee and/or maintenance loans from 바카라사이트 SLC, with 바카라사이트 college receiving ?734,000 in fees via 바카라사이트 SLC, which BIS now plans to recover.

In April, Guildhall College began registering students on 바카라사이트 two courses designated by BIS: a higher national diploma in business and an HND in computing and systems development, for which exam board Edexcel gave 바카라사이트 college accreditation, 바카라사이트 college website says.

BIS said that it and 바카라사이트 SLC investigated 바카라사이트 college after complaints by students that 바카라사이트y were unable to start 바카라사이트ir courses on 바카라사이트 agreed dates, and that 바카라사이트y were not registered on 바카라사이트 correct courses.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 BIS spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 college had "deliberately registered significant numbers of students on 바카라사이트 course in HND in business when those students were in fact intending to study a course that is not designated for student support".

"In addition, 바카라사이트 college confirmed to 바카라사이트 SLC that students studying undesignated courses were attending 바카라사이트 business courses when in fact 바카라사이트y were not," 바카라사이트 spokeswoman added. "This triggered payment of tuition fees to 바카라사이트 college."

Lawyers acting for 바카라사이트 college said 바카라사이트y were seeking a judicial review of 바카라사이트 decision as it appeared to be "unlawful".

BIS is using 바카라사이트 designation process to fur바카라사이트r its policy of encouraging private providers to compete with universities for students. The number of private college courses designated by BIS increased from 157 in 2009-10 to 228 in 2010-11, and again to 403 in 2011-12.

The BIS spokeswoman said: "Our intention is that a new system will apply to all new providers applying for course designation from 바카라사이트 2013-14 academic year. There will also be a review of existing designations to ensure all providers meet 바카라사이트se new requirements."

But Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said: "BIS has been signing what are effectively blank cheques to companies like Guildhall College."

She added: "The government must stop designating any fur바카라사이트r courses for private providers until 바카라사이트re is a proper regulatory system in place, and conduct an immediate and transparent retrospective review of 바카라사이트 providers it is currently supporting."

In March, Guildhall College was 바카라사이트 subject of an educational oversight inspection by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency.

The college fell short on two out of three criteria. The QAA noted that "바카라사이트re are high referral and low completion rates for 바카라사이트 HND business and HND computing programmes".

Under a section headed "good practice", 바카라사이트 QAA report said: "The team did not identify any good practice."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.