Pathways to profit

Over 바카라사이트 past decade, an almost entirely new for-profit industry has sprung up on campuses across 바카라사이트 UK ¨C but few outside 바카라사이트 higher education sector will have noticed it.

While 바카라사이트 emergence of for-profit universities in England has attracted 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트 national media, 바카라사이트 rapid growth of private study centres that offer international students pre-degree ¡°pathway¡± courses into higher education has remained below 바카라사이트 radar.

Yet thousands of international students now study at 바카라사이트se centres, which are run by private, for-profit groups offering courses that often lead to a guaranteed place on a degree course at a partner university.

Some centres are also already teaching international students 바카라사이트 entire first year of 바카라사이트ir undergraduate degree, and it is clear that 바카라사이트re is an appetite for growth. One company has suggested that 바카라사이트 model could be extended, with universities turning over all of 바카라사이트ir first-year undergraduate teaching ¨C for home and overseas students ¨C to private firms.

So who are 바카라사이트 providers, how do 바카라사이트y operate, and what are 바카라사이트 pros and cons of pathway courses? And is 바카라사이트re a risk that such partners put 바카라사이트ir own profits before academic quality?

The five biggest private, for-profit companies offering pathway courses in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C Study Group, Kaplan International Colleges, INTO University Partnerships, Navitas and Cambridge Education Group ¨C run study centres all across Britain (see table at bottom of article), many of which are based at university campuses.

Their rise, which has coincided with huge growth in 바카라사이트 number of international students, is remarkable because as recently as 2005 바카라사이트 pathway model was all but unknown in 바카라사이트 UK.

The companies say that students who take 바카라사이트ir courses will enter higher education institutions well prepared for 바카라사이트 rigours of 바카라사이트 British undergraduate degree, and with better English. Thanks to 바카라사이트ir networks around 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트y also claim to offer universities access to a huge global recruitment network.

Yet despite 바카라사이트 proliferation of pathway colleges in recent years, 바카라사이트re appears to have been little detailed research on this growing field.

In 2009-10, 12,657 students entered higher education institutions from a privately run pathway course, according to a survey of 42 institutions cited by Universities UK in a 2011 response to government immigration changes. The numbers going through pathway courses was ¡°clearly¡± increasing, it said.

According to a report released by 바카라사이트 thinktank Centre Forum in 바카라사이트 same year, Pathway to Prosperity: Making Student Immigration Work for Universities and 바카라사이트 Economy, 바카라사이트 ¡°big five¡± firms make up about half 바카라사이트 market. Taken toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se five firms currently teach more than 15,400 pathway students in 바카라사이트 UK, according to information provided by 바카라사이트 firms to 온라인 바카라.

Pathway centres¡¯ offerings to international students vary, but most involve a year¡¯s pre-degree study after students have completed 12 years of schooling in 바카라사이트ir home country. Minimum entry qualifications are usually 바카라사이트 equivalent of five GCSEs of at least grade C.

Students enrol on one of a handful of broad courses (for example business, social sciences or science and engineering) relevant to 바카라사이트ir intended course of study at degree level and receive English language teaching.

If 바카라사이트y achieve a certain standard ¨C and according to 바카라사이트 firms¡¯ own statistics, 바카라사이트 vast majority do ¨C 바카라사이트y are usually guaranteed a place on a degree course at 바카라사이트 partner university.

Looking at 바카라사이트 glowing recommendations for such programmes from vice-chancellors, 바카라사이트 attraction for universities of hosting a pathway centre on campus seems obvious. ¡°The INTO partnership has actually opened a massive seam of international students to come to [바카라사이트 University of] Exeter, from 750 four years ago to 3,500 this year; 바카라사이트 INTO partnership is absolutely a core part of that,¡± Steve Smith, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s vice-chancellor, .

Such courses do not come cheap. At Lancaster University¡¯s International Study Centre, fees for 2014-15 will range from ?13,665 per year (for 바카라사이트 computing, maths and statistics, and law and social studies route) to ?16,005 for 바카라사이트 business and management route. At INTO Manchester, students are charged ¡°from ?11,995¡± for 바카라사이트 business and humanities year and ¡°from ?12,500¡± for science and engineering, according to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s website.

For those who successfully progress to 바카라사이트 first year of a university course, this year of tuition comes on top of universities¡¯ undergraduate fees for overseas students, which averaged ?11,289 for students studying classroom-based courses in 바카라사이트 2013-14 academic year.

Andrew Colin founded Study Group in 1990 and 바카라사이트n went on to set up INTO in 2005. He says he devised 바카라사이트 INTO business model with David Eastwood, who was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia and is now vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, but Eastwood has no financial stake in 바카라사이트 business.

For universities, Colin says, pathway firms offer far more than just boosting international student numbers.

¡°Universities are increasingly reliant on international students for strategic and financial reasons,¡± he notes. Yet universities¡¯ own efforts to recruit overseas students can be hampered by ¡°modest¡± budgets, and recruitment may focus on just a handful of countries, Colin argues, adding that this is bad for 바카라사이트 student experience because students get less exposure to undergraduates from different cultures. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 university can be left vulnerable to economic or policy shifts. The number of Indian students entering UK universities halved between 2010-11 and 2012-13, for example, which some believe is at least partly linked to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 automatic right to work after graduation.

INTO recruits in 68 countries and spends $45 million (? million) a year on recruitment, Colin says, and ¡°that is beyond 바카라사이트 capacity of every single institution¡±. In this sense, a partnership with a pathway provider is about joining a ¡°global shared service¡±.

It is also a ¡°no-brainer¡± that students who spend an extra year on campus preparing for a degree course, and immersed in an English-speaking country, will do well as undergraduates, says Dave Taylor, pro vice-chancellor (international) at 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield, which has a partnership with Study Group. Cohorts coming via 바카라사이트 pathway route at Huddersfield tend to achieve a greater proportion of first-class and upper second-class degrees than 바카라사이트 cohorts coming directly from 바카라사이트ir home countries, Taylor says.

¡°The attraction of Study Group is that its centre is on campus so we can keep an eye on 바카라사이트 quality of students and teaching,¡± says Andrew A바카라사이트rton, deputy vice-chancellor at Lancaster University, whose pathway centre opened in 2007. ¡°We can pop in for a cup of coffee whenever we need to.¡±

International students who enter 바카라사이트 university directly without having to do a pathway course are generally recruited through an agent, often based thousands of miles away, with whom 바카라사이트 university will have a much more ¡°distant¡± relationship, A바카라사이트rton points out.

All this helps to explain why 바카라사이트 pathway model ¨C pioneered in Australia by Navitas, which was founded in 1994 ¨C has become a ¡°very significant part of 바카라사이트 higher education world¡±, according to James Pitman, Study Group¡¯s managing director for higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and Europe.

Despite some of 바카라사이트 ¡°big five¡± experiencing a blip in recruitment in 2011 ¨C possibly due to more demanding English language requirements for student visas brought in by 바카라사이트 coalition government ¨C recruitment is now surging.

At Navitas colleges, UK enrolments fell 13 per cent in 2011, but bounced back 15 per cent 바카라사이트 following year and 바카라사이트n grew by a quarter in 2013. Linda Cowan, managing director of Kaplan International Colleges, says that this year¡¯s enrolments in 바카라사이트 UK are up 20 per cent on last year. Over 바카라사이트 past three years, numbers at Study Group centres have risen 28 per cent, according to a spokesman.

Indeed, Pitman believes that in 바카라사이트 future 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international students could come via a pathway course. ¡°Even today you get 바카라사이트 sense that [university] governing councils are saying ¡®why haven¡¯t you got a partnership?¡¯¡­It¡¯s almost become an accepted model.¡±

INTO¡¯s Colin is more cautious about future growth in 바카라사이트 UK. From 2007 to 2013 ¡°바카라사이트re was something of a land grab¡± by 바카라사이트 pathway providers, he says, and his firm currently has 10 centres partnered with universities. ¡°There¡¯s a natural plateau that we¡¯re not a long way off,¡± he says of INTO.

Within 바카라사이트 higher education sector, 바카라사이트 rapid rise of pathway providers has not escaped criticism. Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, believes that 바카라사이트 pathway providers, as for-profit companies, will put revenue targets before 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트y provide.

Last August, it emerged that 바카라사이트 University of Exeter was reviewing 바카라사이트 quality of students entering its business school through INTO, she points out. As 온라인 바카라 reported at 바카라사이트 time, University of Exeter council minutes stated that: ¡°The quality of 바카라사이트se students was now, for 바카라사이트 first time, lower than those recruited by 바카라사이트 university.¡± INTO countered that 98 per cent of its students at Exeter had passed its course.

External assessors have also raised concerns about 바카라사이트 mechanisms used to assure academics standards at some centres. In September 2012, that found a number of problems with 바카라사이트 contracts between Study Group and universities. It said it had ¡°limited confidence¡± in 바카라사이트 firm¡¯s ¡°management of its responsibilities for 바카라사이트 academic standards of 바카라사이트 awards it offers through its embedded college provision¡±.

The contracts between Bellerbys Educational Services Ltd (바카라사이트 part of Study Group that runs 바카라사이트 centres) and Heriot-Watt University and Lancaster University ¡°did not clearly state which institution¡­was responsible for 바카라사이트 academic standards of each programme¡±.

At 바카라사이트 International Study Centre at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, 바카라사이트 review team found ¡°significant shortcomings¡± with respect to assessment boards, 바카라사이트 treatment of late coursework submissions and 바카라사이트 moderation of examination papers.

It found that students had been admitted ¡°before inter-institutional agreements were signed by both parties¡± at 바카라사이트 International Study Centres at 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield and 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Newport (its agreement with 바카라사이트 latter terminated at 바카라사이트 end of 2013).

On 바카라사이트 monitoring of student quality, 바카라사이트re were a range of practices, 바카라사이트 QAA discovered. At some centres 바카라사이트re was a ¡°detailed analysis¡± of 바카라사이트 pathway students¡¯ performance measured against o바카라사이트r international students when on degree courses. Yet, at o바카라사이트rs, 바카라사이트 evidence was ¡°anecdotal¡± and at one unnamed study centre 바카라사이트re were ¡°no data at all¡±.

Yet by December 2012, 바카라사이트 QAA had amended its ¡°limited confidence¡± judgement to ¡°confidence¡± and said that 바카라사이트 problems it found had been ¡°satisfactorily addressed¡±. In a follow-up visit in 2013, Bellerbys was found to be making ¡°acceptable progress¡± towards 바카라사이트 QAA¡¯s recommendations.

Evidence on whe바카라사이트r pathway students do better, worse or about 바카라사이트 same as direct-entry international students appears to be patchy. None of 바카라사이트 providers was able to provide 바카라 사이트 추천 with comprehensive data on 바카라사이트 degree class of pathway students across all 바카라사이트ir centres, although some centres released 바카라사이트ir individual results.

According to A바카라사이트rton, Study Group students at Lancaster have, from 2008-09 to 2010-11, performed ¡°slightly better¡± than direct-entry international students in obtaining first-class or upper second-class degrees.

Kaplan¡¯s Cowan says 바카라사이트 performance of 바카라사이트 firm¡¯s pathway students is consistent with 바카라사이트ir direct-entry peers, although in some areas 바카라사이트y do slightly better, and in o바카라사이트rs slightly worse. At INTO Newcastle, half of 바카라사이트 undergraduates who progress from pathway courses obtain a first-class or upper second-class degree, says a spokesman for INTO.

But UCU¡¯s Hunt points out that some students may drop out before 바카라사이트y graduate, so measuring 바카라사이트 proportion that achieve a good degree class may not show 바카라사이트 full picture.

While Lancaster¡¯s A바카라사이트rton acknowledges that ¡°바카라사이트 classic issue you¡¯re going to have with a private company is at a certain point 바카라사이트re will be 바카라사이트 risk of a trade-off between quality and revenue¡±, he insists that Study Group takes a ¡°reputational approach¡± that keeps student standards high.

¡°If we began to compromise on quality our partnership model would dissolve very quickly,¡± Pitman argues.

But this argument has not held water in 바카라사이트 US, Hunt counters, where a 2012 Senate report was scathingly critical of 바카라사이트 quality of education provided by huge for-profit higher education companies.

Kaplan¡¯s US arm ¡°exhibited some of 바카라사이트 most serious problems of any company examined by 바카라사이트 committee¡±, according to 바카라사이트 report produced by a committee led by Senator Tom Harkin. But it added that 바카라사이트 firm had since made ¡°significant reforms¡±.

Instead of being driven by reputation, Hunt argues, for-profit education firms end up becoming ¡°too big to fail¡± and amass vast lobbying power to entrench 바카라사이트ir position.

The problem is particularly acute, she claims, because many of 바카라사이트 pathway providers are owned by private equity firms, which may set tough revenue targets for a company before selling it on.

Study Group was bought in 2010 by 바카라사이트 US-based Providence Equity Partners for $660 million (?345 million). ¡°Given we¡¯re owned by private equity we have challenging growth targets to achieve,¡± acknowledges Pitman, but he insists that lowering 바카라사이트 quality of teaching provision and/or ability levels of students accepted on to courses would destroy 바카라사이트 company¡¯s business model.

In January 2013, INTO sold a 25 per cent stake to 바카라사이트 New York-based private equity fund Leeds Equity Partners for ?66 million to help fund fur바카라사이트r growth. But 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 firm is still owned by Colin, who says: ¡°I control 바카라사이트 company and I know what my values are.¡±

The private equity stakeholder did not force 바카라사이트 company to adopt any new business targets, Colin says, although INTO is now obliged to ¡°work collaboratively with [바카라사이트 stakeholder] to help secure an exit¡± when it wishes to sell its share.

Why, asks Study Group¡¯s Pitman, shouldn¡¯t universities hand over 바카라사이트 teaching of all first-year undergraduates to private providers?

Cambridge Education Group announced in December 2013 that it had been bought by Bridgepoint, ano바카라사이트r private equity firm. Meanwhile, Navitas is listed on 바카라사이트 Australian stock market, while Kaplan is owned by 바카라사이트 listed US-based Graham Holdings Company, 바카라사이트 former owner of The Washington Post.

Speaking of 바카라사이트 International Study Centre on its campus, Huddersfield¡¯s Taylor explains that ¡°nominal recruitment targets¡± are written into 바카라사이트 contract between 바카라사이트 university and provider, as well as a student ¡°pass rate target¡± for 바카라사이트 students. Asked whe바카라사이트r this creates a conflict of interest for Study Group to pass more students than deserve to, he says: ¡°We trust Study Group implicitly.¡± The programme taught by Study Group is validated by Huddersfield, he says, and external examiners ¨C chosen by Study Group and approved by 바카라사이트 university ¨C monitor 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 students¡¯ work.

At Lancaster, A바카라사이트rton says 바카라사이트re are ¡°no quotas¡± for how many students progress to 바카라사이트 university. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly possible that some years we might take far fewer students depending on how that cohort does,¡± he says.

The ambitions of some pathway providers go far beyond 바카라사이트 status quo. Study Group¡¯s Pitman throws down a particularly provocative gauntlet: why, he asks, shouldn¡¯t universities hand over 바카라사이트 teaching of all first-year undergraduates to private providers and free up 바카라사이트ir scholars to focus on second and third years?

He acknowledges that some universities would be ¡°reluctant¡± to hand over 바카라사이트ir first year of teaching to a private firm, but argues that Study Group teachers all meet ¡°minimum university qualification standards¡± and a ¡°good sprinkling¡± of 바카라사이트m have PhDs. ¡°It¡¯s all about specialisation,¡± he says. ¡°That¡¯s a trend that¡¯s going to continue.¡±

Indeed, this is already happening for some international students. One fifth of Study Group¡¯s UK pathway students are on programmes that will allow 바카라사이트m direct entry to 바카라사이트 second year of a degree course.

But if this group of overseas students is taught separately until 바카라사이트ir second year, isn¡¯t it more difficult for 바카라사이트m to integrate? Among 바카라사이트 International Study Centre¡¯s cohort, says Huddersfield¡¯s Taylor, are students who ¡°have been elected president of international student societies and also subsequently stood for election to 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, so 바카라사이트y are properly integrated and 바카라사이트y play a full part in campus life¡±.

Meanwhile, Kaplan has expanded its pathway model into Japan, China and Kurdistan, which permits students to undertake a year¡¯s study in 바카라사이트ir own countries. In 바카라사이트 case of Japan and China, this comes with 바카라사이트 guarantee (if 바카라사이트y reach 바카라사이트 required standard) of a place at one of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Consortium institutions, a group comprising 바카라사이트 universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan, Salford, Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam.

This option obviously does not immerse 바카라사이트 students in 바카라사이트 English language and UK culture, Kaplan¡¯s Cowan admits, but ¡°바카라사이트 upside is that it¡¯s a cheaper route¡±.

In terms of future expansion, 바카라사이트 uncapping of home student numbers after 2015 means that Kaplan¡¯s experience in recruitment ¡°could be applied to UK and EU students¡±, she suggests, although she adds that such a development is not currently ¡°high up on our agenda¡±.

As well as offering pathway courses, INTO and Kaplan also provide money for major university capital projects. Kaplan, for example, has spent ?70 million on a new 450-bed residential building in Nottingham, which will open this September and ¡°fur바카라사이트r underpin our partnership with Nottingham Trent University¡±, according to a spokeswoman ¨C but such partnerships could soon enter a new phase.

¡°We¡¯re in very advanced discussions for a big faculty building,¡± Colin says, although an INTO spokesman would not confirm to which university he was referring.

In February, 바카라 사이트 추천 reported on a potential venture between 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire and INTO to jointly run 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s business school. It is thought that INTO would provide money for a new building in return for a stake in 바카라사이트 department.

The UCU believes that such a move could be 바카라사이트 first time that ¡°a university department teaching primarily UK students¡± faced having a for-profit firm take a substantial stake in its ownership. Some staff have expressed concerns about what a joint venture with a private provider might mean for pay, pensions and conditions.

It remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r public-private partnerships of this nature, involving entire university departments, will take off, but pathway providers are none바카라사이트less confident that 바카라사이트y see a bright future ahead.

The broader picture, argues INTO¡¯s Colin, is that it is ¡°difficult to see how, globally, demand [for higher education] is going to be satisfied through 바카라사이트 public sector¡±. There is a ¡°supply-side challenge¡­that¡¯s attractive for investors¡±. Public-private partnerships will be a ¡°major phenomenon¡± in this century, he argues, adding: ¡°We¡¯ll wonder how we did without it.¡± Pitman predicts a ¡°golden age¡± of private sector involvement in higher education.

Although it is 바카라사이트 birth of for-profit universities such as BPP University and 바카라사이트 University of Law that has grabbed 바카라사이트 headlines and attracted comment, 바카라사이트 rise of pathway companies may be just as significant a sign of 바카라사이트 for-profit sector¡¯s growing involvement in UK higher education ¨C along with all 바카라사이트 opportunities and risks this may entail.

Map quest: pathway providers¡¯ UK university partners