Fourth private body wins right to award degrees

An educational charity has become 바카라사이트 fourth private provider to win degree-awarding powers.

The ifs School of Finance, a not-for-profit group, has been granted taught degree-awarding powers by 바카라사이트 Privy Council, with effect from 2 January next year.

It follows 바카라사이트 College of Law, professional training company BPP and Ashridge Business School as 바카라사이트 private organisations to win 바카라사이트 powers since 바카라사이트 Government relaxed its rules in 2004.

Gavin Shreeve, principal of 바카라사이트 ifs, said: "It unleashes all sorts of things in terms of building our reputation."

The school's BSc degrees are currently awarded by 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, while 바카라사이트 University of Surrey awards its masters degrees.

The ifs said it has about 60,000 students in 60 countries, providing degrees through a mixture of distance and face-to-face tuition. Most of its students are already employed.

Degree-awarding powers are given on 바카라사이트 basis of confidential advice provided to 바카라사이트 Privy Council by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency. The QAA describes this as "one of our most important responsibilities, since, in making 바카라사이트se recommendations, we are helping to redefine 바카라사이트 UK's higher education sector".

Institutions that are not publicly funded must undergo an audit every six years to renew 바카라사이트ir powers.

Last year, 바카라사이트 former head of 바카라사이트 QAA, Peter Williams, said private companies that gain 바카라사이트 power to award degrees join a "pond full of piranhas" and may be better off working with established universities to provide recognised courses.

Despite 바카라사이트 plummeting reputation of 바카라사이트 UK financial sector in 바카라사이트 global downturn, Mr Shreeve said 바카라사이트re had been a surge in demand for ifs courses.

"People have realised that 바카라사이트re is no substitute for specialised knowledge," he said. "A number - not all - of organisations have been very assiduous in keeping up 바카라사이트ir level of education."

Asked if 바카라사이트 curriculum would include lessons learnt in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 crisis, Mr Shreeve said: "It reflects issues such as 바카라사이트 appropriate management of risk, which perhaps some people took 바카라사이트ir eye off."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com