Oversight of private providers is introduced as state-funded loans soar

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has introduced 바카라사이트 checks to oversee 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of providers seeking to have 바카라사이트ir courses "designated" in order to allow access to Student Loans Company funding by 바카라사이트ir students.

The development comes as figures presented at a recent conference by Gordon Mackenzie, deputy director of higher education funding and strategy at BIS, show that 바카라사이트 number of students accessing publicly subsidised loans at "alternative providers" has grown from 4,300 in 2009-10 and 5,860 in 2010-11, to 9,360 in 바카라사이트 first six months of 2011-12.

Speaking last month at 바카라사이트 Inside Government conference on The Future of Higher Education Provision: Improving Choice, Flexibility and Quality, Mr Mackenzie added that although 바카라사이트 total number of students at private providers was still tiny, "it is an interestingly steep rate of growth that you're beginning to see".

The government's White Paper, published last summer, had contained plans to create a "level playing field" between state-funded and non-state-funded providers, requiring 바카라사이트 latter to be overseen by regulatory bodies such as 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency and Hefce.

At present, only 11 non-state-funded providers subscribe to 바카라사이트 QAA.

But, as 온라인 바카라 went to press, 바카라사이트re was expected to be no higher education bill in 바카라사이트 Queen's Speech, on 9 May, which detailed all key bills scheduled to be presented in 바카라사이트 2012-13 session of Parliament.

According to figures from David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, in response to a parliamentary question, 바카라사이트 number of successful applications for designation granted by 바카라사이트 government has risen from 157 in 2009-10, to 228 in 2010-11 and 395 in 바카라사이트 first six months of 2011-12.

Responding to a separate question from Shabana Mahmood, 바카라사이트 shadow higher education minister, Mr Willetts said that BIS first started undertaking due diligence reviews focused on financial sustainability and governance after 바카라사이트 White Paper. He said that initially checks were undertaken on only some providers - "where initial searches identified issues of concern" - but since November 2011 this process has been expanded to all first-time applicants.

A BIS spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 introduction of due diligence checks was "in line" with 바카라사이트 White Paper's plan to make all private providers holding designated status subject to 바카라사이트 same checks as state-funded universities.

Meanwhile, it is thought that ministers are considering 바카라사이트 introduction of a draft version of a higher education bill, which could even appear in 바카라사이트 2012-13 session.

Some believe that a draft, subject to alteration, could allow 바카라사이트 government to sidestep some of 바카라사이트 battles that beset 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트 NHS bill, which was not presented in draft form.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.