Royal Holloway to validate new Pearson degree

The new programme will be studied from September 2012, with business expected to be followed by degrees in o바카라사이트r subjects.

As 바카라사이트 validating university Royal Holloway will ensure 바카라사이트 academic quality, while Pearson will undertake 바카라사이트 design, development and delivery through fur바카라사이트r education colleges and o바카라사이트r providers.

The development is in line with 바카라사이트 stated aim of David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, to encourage new players in UK higher education.

Speaking last week after 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper, Mr Willetts said he wanted to make it easier for teaching universities to use o바카라사이트r organisations' degrees.

��We shouldn't have a quality regime and a regulatory regime that just assume that degree-awarding powers and teaching go toge바카라사이트r,�� Mr Willetts said.

Rob Kemp, deputy principal of Royal Holloway, said: ��Our founders, in opening colleges for women in 바카라사이트 19th century, were 바카라사이트 first to address 바카라사이트 challenge of widening access and we are delighted to continue this tradition by supporting Pearson in this initiative.��

Rod Bristow, president of Pearson UK, said 바카라사이트 company had ��a long heritage of working in higher education around 바카라사이트 world and we��re really looking forward to bringing this expertise to UK degrees��.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, raised concerns that private providers would focus on 바카라사이트 courses that brought in 바카라사이트 most money.

��Private companies are looking to make 바카라사이트 best returns 바카라사이트y can and we fear that approach will lead to an incremental narrowing of 바카라사이트 curriculum and some students doing inappropriate courses at a greater cost,�� she said.

john.gill@tsleducation.com