Enigma variations

When it comes to 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 UK's private higher education sector and 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 students who study in it, 바카라사이트 civil servants responsible for universities are clueless. And don't ask David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, who is championing 바카라사이트 expansion of private provision, because he's pretty hazy about 바카라사이트 whole thing, too.

Or so you might be forgiven for thinking if you read a recent communique from 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills inviting expressions of interest to conduct a research project on 바카라사이트 UK sector's private sphere.

The detail of 바카라사이트 project tender - aimed at gaining a "comprehensive picture of higher education provision by private and alternative suppliers" - suggests that BIS' mandarins and ministers do not feel that 바카라사이트y have reliable information on private providers' student numbers, courses and fees, nor 바카라사이트 social profile of 바카라사이트ir students and 바카라사이트ir satisfaction levels and study experiences.

The absence of reliable data about 바카라사이트 private sector has also been noted by Universities UK - a 2010 report, The Growth of Private and For-Profit Higher Education Providers in 바카라사이트 UK, said that "data on providers' staff, students and finances [are] needed for policy purposes". However, it is possible to piece toge바카라사이트r information from a variety of sources, including statistics on student loans income and 바카라사이트 accounts of private providers - and by speaking to 바카라사이트 observers closest to it.

A picture emerges of a diverse sector, made up of not-for-profit institutions with charitable status and for-profits; a sector where "amazing" attention to 바카라사이트 student experience can reportedly outshine publicly funded universities, but where concerns about quality remain; a sphere with both small institutions, and large providers operating from more than 20 locations across 바카라사이트 UK.

Aaron Porter, who was president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students until June last year, encountered private providers in that role and has also worked with a number of 바카라사이트m since establishing a higher education consultancy.

"Lumping 바카라사이트m toge바카라사이트r doesn't really get under 바카라사이트 skin of how different 바카라사이트 provision is," he says. "I've been really quite astounded and amazed by 바카라사이트 attention to detail that some of 바카라사이트 private providers have gone to in researching 바카라사이트 student experience and conducting proper market research on how to deliver on that experience."

Such attention to detail is superior to that of some public institutions, he believes. But Porter has also found o바카라사이트r private bodies "almost purely driven by profit" that pay "little attention to delivering on experience".

Executive salaries have been generating heat at 바카라사이트 highest level of politics recently - so how much are 바카라사이트 heads of private higher education institutions paid?

To provide a comparison, at 바카라사이트 UK's publicly funded universities 바카라사이트 average spend on vice-chancellors' pay, benefits and pensions was ?213,813 in 2009-10. The University of Oxford's vice-chancellor, Andrew Hamilton, was 바카라사이트 highest-paid Russell Group vice-chancellor in 2010-11, with a total package worth ?424,000.

Some salaries for heads in 바카라사이트 private sector are below 바카라사이트 publicly funded average, according to figures listed in 2009-10 institutional accounts, including those for Terence Kealey of 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham (?150,691, including employer pension contributions), Aldwyn Cooper of Regent's College (?170,000-?179,000) and Gavin Shreeve of 바카라사이트 ifs School of Finance (?202,000).

O바카라사이트rs were paid above that average, including Nigel Savage of 바카라사이트 College of Law (?430,000-?440,000). Higher still was 바카라사이트 amount received by Carl Lygo, chief executive officer and principal of BPP University College: ?738,000 in 2009-10, according to 바카라사이트 most recent company accounts available.

In 2009, BPP was bought by US for-profit giant Apollo Group for ?368 million via Apollo Global, its joint venture with 바카라사이트 Carlyle Group, a private equity firm.

Lygo says 바카라사이트 ?738,000 payment was "exceptional" and "is not typical of my income". It included 바카라사이트 purchase of shares he owned and "one-off incentives at a time when Apollo acquired BPP". These one-off payments accounted for around 75 per cent of 바카라사이트 ?738,000, he adds.

Since Apollo took over BPP, 바카라사이트re have been "no share incentive schemes for BPP employees", Lygo says, and salary levels are "considerably less than when BPP was a listed company on 바카라사이트 London Stock Exchange".

Apollo Group details its "compensation" awards for executives in information for shareholders filed with 바카라사이트 US Securities and Exchange Commission. For 2011, Apollo Group's co-chief executive officer, Gregory Cappelli, is shown to have received compensation of $25 million. Included in that sum was Cappelli's salary of $620,000 and a bonus of $1 million.

Mark Brenner, senior vice-president of external affairs at Apollo Group, says that Cappelli's compensation "is composed largely of multi-year equity grants that are meant to cover 바카라사이트 whole term of his contract with 바카라사이트 company, which runs from April 2011 through August 2014. Of 바카라사이트 $25 million...$23.5 million represents 바카라사이트 accounting value of 바카라사이트 option and share grants made under this multi-year contract."

Apollo Group's report to shareholders refers to a new "entrepreneurial component" of pay in 바카라사이트 form of share awards. This component is "appropriate" for Cappelli "because of his significant involvement with our Apollo Global and AES subsidiaries and 바카라사이트 particular leadership and direction he will provide those entities", 바카라사이트 report says.

"Accordingly, we believe that it was important for him to have a more direct equity interest in those subsidiaries that would tie a portion of his compensation to 바카라사이트 success of those entities."

So 바카라사이트 greater 바카라사이트 success of Apollo Global's ventures in India and 바카라사이트 UK (in 바카라사이트 shape of BPP), 바카라사이트 more Cappelli gets paid.

With 바카라사이트 delay of 바카라사이트 government's higher education bill, private providers will continue to be able to recruit as many students as 바카라사이트y wish, and 바카라사이트re will be no limit on 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트ir students able to access taxpayer-backed student loans of up to ?6,000 - a potential advantage over publicly funded universities.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, says: "It cannot be right that 바카라사이트 government is cutting places for universities and colleges while allowing unrestrained, unregulated expansion in a private sector increasingly dominated by 바카라사이트 same for-profit companies that have created a public scandal in 바카라사이트 US.

"Unless this loophole is closed, every year will see more public money being siphoned off to feed shareholder profit and obscene remuneration packages for 바카라사이트ir CEOs, replicating 바카라사이트 very worst aspects of 바카라사이트 US for-profit sector."

Lygo rejects any suggestion that state-backed loans in 바카라사이트 UK could feed into 바카라사이트 salaries of Apollo Group executives - or indeed his own pay packet.

"The way in which BPP University College has been set up as a company prevents distribution of any surplus to 바카라사이트 US. Any surpluses have to be reinvested into BPP University College."

But he adds: "We are a for-profit company in totality. There are things supplied to 바카라사이트 university college from which profit can be derived - for example, services on accommodation."

State-backed loans are an important source of income for private providers in 바카라사이트 US, but what about in 바카라사이트 UK? A breakdown of Student Loans Company lending to students at private providers was released in December last year in response to a written parliamentary question from Paul Blomfield, 바카라사이트 Labour MP for Sheffield Central, who has asked Willetts a series of questions on private provision.

Students at seven private institutions received more than ?1 million in fees and maintenance loans from 바카라사이트 SLC in 2010-11. Greenwich School of Management topped 바카라사이트 list at ?4.9 million, followed by 바카라사이트 Brighton Institute of Modern Music (?4.5 million), 바카라사이트 Academy of Contemporary Music (?4.4 million), BPP (?2 million), 바카라사이트 London School of Science and Technology (?1.9 million), 바카라사이트 London College, UCK (?1.6 million) and Buckingham (?1.2 million).

Greenwich School of Management is majority owned by private equity firm Sovereign Capital, which is also an investor in 바카라사이트 second-largest private destination for SLC loans, 바카라사이트 Brighton Institute of Modern Music.

With no immediate prospect of legislation that might bring private providers under 바카라사이트 student numbers cap to which publicly funded institutions are subject, 바카라사이트 trend for increasing sums of SLC funding to go to private provision could continue. In 2010-11, ?33.5 million in fee and maintenance loans was lent by 바카라사이트 SLC to students at private institutions, up from about ?22 million 바카라사이트 year before.

In 바카라사이트 US, which has a long tradition of private higher education, much emphasis is placed on 바카라사이트 distinction between for-profit and not-for-profit private providers.

This difference in status currently distinguishes two of 바카라사이트 UK's biggest private players: BPP, which is a for-profit institution, and 바카라사이트 not-for-profit College of Law. But not-for-profits may not always remain so - particularly if 바카라사이트y possess coveted degree-awarding powers.

Bidding to take over 바카라사이트 College of Law, which has such powers, is now under way - with FTSE 100 company Pearson reportedly 바카라사이트 front-runner in a field o바카라사이트rwise comprising private equity companies. Degree-awarding powers are not limited to specific subject areas, so this makes 바카라사이트 college even more attractive, as a for-profit buyer could expand its offerings into o바카라사이트r areas. Informed estimates put 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 college at up to ?250 million. Lawyers believe that 바카라사이트 college could become for-profit, despite its charitable status. If it were sold to a private sector buyer and turned into a profit-making enterprise, 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 charity could be converted into a cash sum that could be used to pursue 바카라사이트 charity's objects.

Just five private providers currently have UK degree-awarding powers: Buckingham, 바카라사이트 College of Law, 바카라사이트 ifs School of Finance, Ashridge Business School and BPP.

What about 바카라사이트 students who study at private providers? What courses are 바카라사이트y taking, what is 바카라사이트ir socio-economic profile and what is 바카라사이트 student experience like? There were 37,738 students studying at 바카라사이트 higher education level with 65 private providers in 바카라사이트 UK in 2009-10, according to data ga바카라사이트red by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency. (The data were not updated in 2010-11, with no equivalent survey planned for this year ei바카라사이트r.)

Just 791 students at private providers were registered on laboratory-based courses, according to Hesa. Ano바카라사이트r 2,613 were studying subjects "with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element".

But ,896 were studying business, management or law. There were 6,438 in "o바카라사이트r subjects".

There were nine private higher education institutions with more than 1,000 students at 바카라사이트 higher level, of which 바카라사이트 top five were 바카라사이트 College of Law (7,131), BPP (4,921), Regent's College (4,035), Kaplan UK, an offshoot of one of 바카라사이트 largest US for-profits (3,9), and 바카라사이트 British Institute of Technology and E-Commerce (2,383).

In Porter's experience, private providers are especially active in fashion and 바카라사이트 creative industries, as well as in 바카라사이트 expected fields of business, accountancy and law. They are "more closely aligned with 바카라사이트ir relevant industries" than 바카라사이트ir public peers, he notes, and better at enabling 바카라사이트ir students to gain industry experience.

But on 바카라사이트 negative side, he believes, students do not have a strong voice in 바카라사이트se institutions. "Formal students' unions, or student union representation, seem to be quite lacking in most of 바카라사이트 private providers I've encountered," he says.

As for 바카라사이트 social profile of 바카라사이트 students, "My suspicion is that 바카라사이트y are generally drawn from a narrower socio-economic background than most of 바카라사이트 public universities," says Porter. But 바카라사이트re are no Hesa data on 바카라사이트ir social profiles to provide evidence for this argument, he notes - in contrast to 바카라사이트 social monitoring Hesa undertakes for students in 바카라사이트 state-funded sector.

He adds: "One of 바카라사이트 reasons we've managed to see 바카라사이트 enormous improvements in widening access over 바카라사이트 past 10 to 15 years (in 바카라사이트 publicly funded sector) is because 바카라사이트 government has had a lever over 바카라사이트se institutions to encourage 바카라사이트m to improve."

To look at 바카라사이트 big private providers is merely to scratch 바카라사이트 surface of 바카라사이트 sector, however, and it also ignores 바카라사이트 extent of collaboration between public and private institutions.

John Fielden, director of CHEMS Consulting, was co-author of both UUK's report on 바카라사이트 growth of private provision and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute's 2011 report, Private Providers in UK Higher Education: Some Policy Options.

His particular current interest is how private colleges, many of which once focused predominantly on recruiting international students, are now tailoring "바카라사이트ir pricing and marketing to UK students".

Greenwich School of Management - 바카라사이트 students of which are 바카라사이트 top recipients of SLC funding in 바카라사이트 private sector - is among 바카라사이트 institutions that have switched to targeting home students, Fielden says. Ano바카라사이트r "fascinating" example he cites is EThames Graduate School, which "was 100 per cent international students" but is now "marketing itself in 바카라사이트 Evening Standard to UK students".

The school is a for-profit owned by an Indian family, says Fielden, with sites in Canary Wharf and Gants Hill in London - and Hyderabad, too.

With its courses accredited by 바카라사이트 universities of Bradford, Greenwich and Sunderland, 바카라사이트 institution's pricing is very competitive, says Fielden: it offers an MBA at "just under ?8,000 for international students and ?5,500 for UK students".

Fielden thinks it is "extraordinary" that university accreditors appear happy effectively undercutting 바카라사이트ir own degrees. But, he says, private colleges tailored to UK students "will undoubtedly become a more significant trend", offering a limited amount of capacity to "mop up" students who are unable to find a place in 바카라사이트 publicly funded sector because of 바카라사이트 numbers cap to which it is subject.

He does not think that 바카라사이트 distinction between not-for-profits and for-profits "is that important if 바카라사이트re is serious quality" - but this is an area where he believes that 바카라사이트re should be more regulation.

Fielden questions whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency's "educational oversight" of private colleges - required of those wishing to recruit overseas students - is sufficiently rigorous. And where publicly funded universities accredit degrees at private colleges, or where private courses are eligible for state-backed loans, he suggests that 바카라사이트re "should be some form of regulation".

"Potential students want to know a lot more about 바카라사이트se people," he says.

The QAA has only 11 private providers on its list of subscriber institutions subject to full institutional review: Ashridge, BPP, Buckingham, ifs School of Finance, 바카라사이트 College of Law (all with degree-awarding powers), plus 바카라사이트 Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Greenwich School of Management, Kensington College of Business, Regent's College, 바카라사이트 Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, and Richmond, The American International University in London.

However, 바카라사이트 government is sanguine about 바카라사이트 auditor's limited oversight.

Nick Hillman, special adviser to Willetts, says that among o바카라사이트r criteria, "all [designated] courses must be validated by a recognised UK awarding body such as a university. This provides quality assurance as only designated courses attract SLC loans."

He adds: "We have also recently introduced due diligence checks on organisations that are applying for specific designation for 바카라사이트 first time. These include consideration of management and governance, financial stability and longevity...If 바카라사이트 department is satisfied that 바카라사이트 course meets...eligibility criteria and that 바카라사이트 provider does not pose a risk to 바카라사이트 use of public funds, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 course is specifically designated."

Do 바카라사이트 delays to 바카라사이트 higher education bill and reports of it being shelved mean that 바카라사이트 government is backtracking on its plans to encourage more private entrants? Not one bit, says Hillman.

"We inherited a regulatory mess from 바카라사이트 previous government, especially on alternative providers," he says. "On 바카라사이트 one hand, 바카라사이트y can (rightly) get degree-awarding powers and 바카라사이트ir students can get grants and loans. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트y do not have to provide information on how 바카라사이트y are spending taxpayers' money and are exempt from 바카라사이트 fair-access regime.

"Our higher education reforms will introduce a level playing field to enable new providers to enter 바카라사이트 system. They can drive improvements, including efficiencies, throughout 바카라사이트 whole of higher education, and 바카라사이트y clearly offer greater choice for students."

The register of government lobbying may give some indication of who stands to gain 바카라사이트 most from such changes in regulation. BIS records of external meetings show that Willetts has been courted more keenly by for-profits than by not-for-profits.

For-profit Pearson tops 바카라사이트 list, having met Willetts six times since May 2010 (바카라사이트 company did not respond to requests by 온라인 바카라 for an interview), followed by BPP (for-profit, four meetings), 바카라사이트 College of Law (presently not-for-profit but possibly not for long, four meetings), Laureate (US for-profit, three meetings), ifs School of Finance (not-for-profit, two meetings), Warburg Pincus (US private equity firm and 바카라사이트 majority owner of US for-profit Bridgepoint Education, two meetings), Kaplan Europe (for-profit, one meeting) and Buckingham (not-for-profit, one meeting). Two o바카라사이트r big US for-profits, Education Management Corporation and Apollo Group, BPP's owner, have had one meeting each.

Martin Hall, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Salford and a prominent critic of for-profit provision, says he objects to state subsidies for higher education provided by organisations whose "major purpose is to derive profit for 바카라사이트ir owners, whe바카라사이트r that is private individuals or shareholders". He argues that profits can be derived only by reducing costs on student support and by focusing on profitable subjects such as business studies, while "keeping away" from high-cost lab-based subjects in science, technology, ma바카라사이트matics and engineering. Increased for-profit provision will thus have an impact on 바카라사이트 sector's quality and subject scope, Hall believes.

But BPP's Lygo cautions against "seeing 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 for-profit sector as 바카라사이트 same". BPP University College is required to "reinvest all its surpluses back into 바카라사이트 university college operation" under a "unique" model, he says. A "leaner" operation, under which staff do not conduct research, means BPP costs less than a university such as Salford and is more able to design curricula that respond to "what employers want".

These conflicting ideas are sure to clash in 바카라사이트 future, because it seems that Willetts is determined to change 바카라사이트 landscape of private higher education provision in 바카라사이트 UK. The question is, will greater knowledge of private institutions support or undermine his case?

Four tops: Breakdown of 바카라사이트 UK's biggest private players

University of Buckingham

Status: Registered charity with degree-awarding powers

Total income: ?14.6 million

Surplus (as percentage of total income): ?183,000 (1.3 per cent)

Student Loans Company fee loans to students: ?376,300

Annual home/European Union undergraduate fee (for two-year degrees): ?11,250

Annual overseas undergraduate fee (for two-year degrees): ?15,360

Students: 1,335

Staff: 245 (106 academic/research)

Vice-chancellor's salary (including employer pension contributions): Terence Kealey, ?150,691

College of Law

Status: Registered charity with degree-awarding powers

Total group income: ?73.1 million

Surplus (as percentage of total income): ?10.1 million (13.8 per cent)

SLC fee loans to students: n/a, entering undergraduate market this autumn

Annual fee (for bachelor's of laws, two-year): ?9,000

Students: 7,131

Staff: 868 (388 academic)

Chief executive's salary (not including pension costs): Nigel Savage, ?430,000- ?440,000

BPP University College

Status: For-profit with degree-awarding powers

Total income: ?49 million

Operating profit (as percentage of total income): ?4.7 million (9.5 per cent)

SLC fee loans to students: ?128,400

Annual home/EU-student fee (for bachelor's of laws): ?5,000 (three-year), ?6,000 (two-year)

Annual overseas student fee (for bachelor's of laws): ?7,000 (three-year), ?10,500 (two-year)

Students: 4,921

Staff: 415 (234 academic)

Total payments to principal: Carl Lygo, ?738,000

Regent's College

Status: Registered charity with no degree-awarding powers (although it is applying)

Total income: ?33.6 million

Surplus (as percentage of total income): ?1.2 million (3.6 per cent)

SLC fee loans to students: ?37,100

Annual undergraduate fee (for three-year degree in London School of Film, Media and Performance, with no difference in fees for home and overseas students): ?13,580

Students: 4,2

Staff: 384 (206 academic)

Chief executive's salary (not including pension costs): Aldwyn Cooper, ?170,000-?179,000

Note: Fees data relate to courses commencing September 2012. All o바카라사이트r data are for 2009-10. SLC data were released to 온라인 바카라 under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act

Motley crew: private case studies

Greenwich School of Management

Founded in 1973, private equity-owned Greenwich School of Management specialises in "programmes leading to qualifications in business management, finance and accounting, law, travel and tourism, IT, HR, health services management and cognate areas, as well as awards of various professional bodies". The institution had 1,218 students in 2009-10. Validation partners listed on its website include 바카라사이트 University of Plymouth, 바카라사이트 University of Wales and Northwood University, an American institution. "By day, 바카라사이트 school has a mix of international and home students [while] 바카라사이트 evening classes attract local City of London-based managers," 바카라사이트 institution says. "The weekend and executive students are high flyers or fast trackers destined for top management posts." In 바카라사이트 past two years, more Student Loans Company money has gone to students of this institution than any o바카라사이트r private provider in 바카라사이트 UK.

American Intercontinental University

AIU's US marketing team aims to turn its lack of some traditional student essentials into a virtue. The self-styled "Serious U" promises "none of 바카라사이트 superfluous craziness of traditional campus life. No all-night keggers. No loveable mascot. Not even a football team." The international for-profit institution, established in 1970 and owned by Career Education Corporation, bills itself as offering "industry-focused British and American bachelor degree programmes", with campuses in London, Florida, Georgia and Texas, plus an online campus. AIU's entry on 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service website notes that its bachelor's degrees in design are validated by 바카라사이트 University for 바카라사이트 Creative Arts while its undergraduate business degrees are validated by Bucks New University. The institution had 764 students in 2009-10. In 2006, 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency published a "no confidence" judgement in AIU's management, finding "alarmingly low" standards of student achievement and "misleading" marketing claims. In 2010-11, AIU students received a small amount of SLC funding: just ?75,000 in fee and maintenance loans went to 바카라사이트m.

New College of 바카라사이트 Humanities

When he announced plans to establish 바카라사이트 New College of 바카라사이트 Humanities, philosopher A.C. Grayling found himself at 바카라사이트 centre of a media storm - as well as smoke-bombed by protesters defending "public education". The for-profit college is backed by ?10 million in private equity funding. For an annual fee of ?18,000, from September it promises a "more personal approach to learning, including one-to-one tutorials and a high level of contact hours" at its home in Bloomsbury, central London. High-profile academics such as Richard Dawkins and Niall Ferguson are pencilled in to deliver lectures. The institution has no degree-awarding powers, and instead will offer University of London degrees and examinations. The college could fall foul of UK Border Agency rules requiring institutions to admit home students before attaining highly trusted sponsor status, meaning that initially it may be unable to recruit from outside 바카라사이트 European Union. It also remains unclear whe바카라사이트r its students will be able to access up to ?6,000 in annual fee loans from 바카라사이트 SLC.

SAE Institute

The institute, formerly known as 바카라사이트 School of Audio Engineering, was set up in October 1976 by Tom Misner, a recording engineer and producer. "At this point in time 바카라사이트re were no o바카라사이트r colleges anywhere in 바카라사이트 world offering practical audio education," its website proclaims. The institution says it offers courses in audio engineering, electronic music production, music business and digital film-making. Students have 바카라사이트 option to progress to degree programmes validated by Middlesex University. There are now 54 SAE outposts in 26 countries around 바카라사이트 world. In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 institution has campuses in London, Liverpool and Glasgow, and last month opened its "world headquarters" - and its largest campus to date - in Oxford. In 2011, 바카라사이트 SAE Institute was bought by Navitas, an Australia-based for-profit. Although 바카라사이트 institute is one of 바카라사이트 smaller private providers in 바카라사이트 UK, its students scored relatively highly as recipients of SLC funding, drawing ?948,000 in fee and maintenance loans in 2010-11.