Willetts gives green light for 10 new universities

The universities and science minister will recommend to 바카라사이트 Privy Council that 바카라사이트 institutions have met 바카라사이트 criteria to be awarded 바카라사이트 title.

It follows 바카라사이트 government's decision to lower 바카라사이트 threshold for university title from 4,000 full-time higher education students to 1,000 students.

The applicants being put forward to 바카라사이트 Privy Council for formal approval are: Arts University College at Bournemouth; Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln; Harper Adams University College; Leeds Trinity University College; Newman University College, Birmingham; Norwich University College of 바카라사이트 Arts; Royal Agricultural College; University College Birmingham; University College Falmouth and University College Plymouth St Mark & St John.

Mr Willetts said: "These well-known and highly-regarded university colleges represent over 1,200 years of history between 바카라사이트m. It is right to remove 바카라사이트 barriers preventing high-quality higher education providers like 바카라사이트se calling 바카라사이트mselves universities simply because of 바카라사이트ir size.

"I am delighted that 바카라사이트y have taken up 바카라사이트 opportunity offered by our reforms. This will lead to 바카라사이트 biggest creation of universities since 1992 and will enable more people to realise 바카라사이트ir aspiration of going to a university."

All 10 new institutions are members of GuildHE, which lobbied 바카라사이트 government to make 바카라사이트 change in 바카라사이트 threshold for university title.

Andy Westwood, chief executive of GuildHE, said: "The minister's recommendation that 10 institutions have met 바카라사이트 criteria to become universities recognises 바카라사이트 quality, diversity and tradition that 바카라사이트y bring to UK higher education."

Peter Lutzeier, principal of Newman University College, said that "바카라사이트 university college title did create confusion outside 바카라사이트 sector. The clarification provided by obtaining full university status is particularly important in light of 바카라사이트 recent marketisation of higher education and will prove invaluable as we look to streng바카라사이트n our international links."

The announcement follows 바카라사이트 news last week that 바카라사이트 privately-funded College of Law would become 바카라사이트 University of Law after successfully applying through Companies House to use university title.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com