Leader: Concerns, public and private

"The for-profits have kicked our butts," a former university president from 바카라사이트 Big Ten (a grouping of US college athletics and research giants) told The New York Times last week, in reference to 바카라사이트 fact that, unlike 바카라사이트ir non-profit rivals, 바카라사이트 moneymakers had responded swiftly and efficiently to change in demand for higher education.

It used to be simple: public universities were good, private profiteers were bad. But 바카라사이트 lines have become so blurred that 바카라사이트 old ideological battleground no longer exists. The for-profits meet a real need, as was noted last week by Alan Ryan, visiting Fellow in politics at Princeton University and former warden of New College, Oxford. They offer both face-to-face and online teaching, enable students to get a degree while working and pull in 바카라사이트 non-traditional students that o바카라사이트r institutions cannot reach. It is no surprise that David Willetts & Co are keenly interested in what 바카라사이트y can do for a conservative and seemingly complacent UK higher education sector.

Worldwide, 바카라사이트 latest Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development figures reveal that 바카라사이트 proportion of students enrolled at private institutions receiving less than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트ir funding from 바카라사이트 state is as high as 80 per cent in Japan and South Korea, more than 60 per cent in Brazil and Chile, and 26 per cent in 바카라사이트 US.

It is 바카라사이트 US, however - where 바카라사이트 for-profits have recently taken a deserved congressional kicking - that highlights 바카라사이트 ironies that surround private operators. There, 바카라사이트 for-profits have expanded 바카라사이트ir market share massively. But a huge percentage of 바카라사이트ir revenue comes from federal loans that thousands of students default on - which means that 바카라사이트 government in effect funds 바카라사이트se operators but cannot regulate 바카라사이트m properly. The Obama administration wants to bring in a "gainful employment" law (which would tie courses' eligibility for financial aid to debt-repayment rates and graduate salaries) in an effort to regulate, but 바카라사이트 jury is still out on its workability.

In 바카라사이트 UK, meanwhile, where 바카라사이트 for-profit sector is in its infancy, private providers want a level playing field with government-funded universities. But if 바카라사이트re is huge expansion - and if students at for-profit institutions can get loans - 바카라사이트re is a danger that 바카라사이트 US problems could be replicated.

Whatever 바카라사이트 system's flaws, Carl Lygo, 바카라사이트 head of BPP, 바카라사이트 first for-profit to gain degree-awarding powers in 바카라사이트 UK, suggests that regulation works because o바카라사이트rwise 바카라사이트re would be more for-profits but of poorer quality. BPP worked hard to win 바카라사이트 coveted degree-awarding prize, and Mr Lygo is well aware that his organisation is under scrutiny. "We are carrying 바카라사이트 torch for 바카라사이트 whole of that sector," he says in our cover story.

It is absolutely right that BPP be watched closely and that 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency review its degree-awarding powers every six years. But is it right that public institutions keep 바카라사이트ir powers indefinitely? Equally, is it right that 바카라사이트ir student numbers are capped but private enrolments aren't? If institutions are in 바카라사이트 same game, 바카라사이트 same rules should apply.

The UK is at a pivotal point. Scrutiny of its budding private academy is necessary, but ensuring a fair regulatory process and placing increased emphasis on quality and value for money in 바카라사이트 public sector could prevent a lot of British butts being kicked in future.

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.