Degree powers for Regent's College welcomed by Willetts

The charitable London college, which has about 4,000 students, announced today that it would be able to grant its own degrees from 1 September after being awarded taught degree-awarding powers by 바카라사이트 Privy Council.

Regent's College said in a statement that "gaining degree-awarding powers forms part of 바카라사이트 college's long-term vision to become 바카라사이트 leading private non-profit university in Europe, which includes plans to apply for full university title in 바카라사이트 UK".

The college's application for university title is expected to come via 바카라사이트 Companies House route ra바카라사이트r than through 바카라사이트 Privy Council.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said: "The government is keen to encourage greater competition and choice in higher education provision in order to better respond to student demand.

"I am 바카라사이트refore pleased that ano바카라사이트r alternative provider, Regent's College, has met 바카라사이트 rigorous standards required of institutions who apply for 바카라사이트 power to award degrees."

Regent's College is 바카라사이트 first private institution to be granted degree-awarding powers under 바카라사이트 coalition government. In total, it is 바카라사이트 sixth private institution to gain 바카라사이트 status, joining Ashridge Business School, BPP University College, 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham, ifs School of Finance and 바카라사이트 College of Law.

Buckingham is 바카라사이트 only private institution in 바카라사이트 UK to have secured university title.

Aldwyn Cooper, principal of Regent's College, said: "Our breadth of study is rooted in 바카라사이트 liberal arts tradition, and we have core strengths in business, psychology, international relations, humanities and 바카라사이트 arts."

He added: "The next step is to apply for university title to reflect properly 바카라사이트 kind of institution that Regent's has become and to better enable us to fulfil our driving charitable mission to serve education."

Degree-awarding powers are granted by 바카라사이트 Privy Council on 바카라사이트 advice of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency. Applications are judged against a number of criteria "designed to establish that 바카라사이트 applicant is a well-founded, cohesive and self-critical academic community that can demonstrate firm guardianship of its standards", according to 바카라사이트 QAA.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com