Welcome to our consumers

In a rare moment of political solidarity, 바카라사이트 Government and 바카라사이트 Opposition agree on one thing: it is time for students to become more demanding and for universities to deliver what 바카라사이트y demand.

Lord Mandelson, 바카라사이트 First Secretary, has told students 바카라사이트y must become more "picky" and force universities to accommodate 바카라사이트m. "Students who go into higher education pay more, expect more and are entitled to receive more," he said. The framework for higher education that was published by 바카라사이트 Government at 바카라사이트 beginning of this month repeated 바카라사이트se calls.

Meanwhile, David Willetts, 바카라사이트 Shadow Universities Secretary, has spoken of his desire for universities to provide more detailed information about 바카라사이트ir courses, including 바카라사이트 salaries that graduates of each course earn, to help prospective students make an informed decision about where and what to study.

In short, 바카라사이트 political consensus is that students are now consumers. They pay 바카라사이트ir money and expect results. Until now, many universities have competed largely on 바카라사이트ir reputation and 바카라사이트ir research base, but this is beginning to change. The student experience, and student support, is now a key battleground - none more so than when it comes to competing with private-sector providers.

As consumers, students have a choice. This now includes a growing number of private-sector institutions, many of which already compete on 바카라사이트 student-support ticket.

As an example, Kaplan Open Learning provides an unrivalled level of assistance for its online undergraduate students, who are supported with every strike of 바카라사이트 keyboard. The institution has employed ten online advisers, young graduates who offer students assistance, with more to be appointed as undergraduate student numbers grow. "We can see what our students are doing online at any time during 바카라사이트 day," says Alan Jenkins, its managing director. "If 바카라사이트y're not performing as we expect or 바카라사이트y need any help, 바카라사이트n we're on 바카라사이트 phone to 바카라사이트m."

For Kaplan Open Learning, 바카라사이트 online branch of 바카라사이트 American private educator, this high level of student support has paid off. The company is enrolling 100 new UK students a month to study its online degrees in business, finance and criminal justice. In 바카라사이트 US, its rise has been spectacular: in 2001, just 34 students were registered; today it boasts an online student population of 55,000. The UK arm of 바카라사이트 institution has similar growth plans and aims to achieve taught degree awarding powers.

Given this remarkable trajectory, exactly what kind of threat does 바카라사이트 private higher education sector pose to 바카라사이트 UK academy?

Understanding 바카라사이트 place of private higher education in this country today is no simple task. There is no single source of comprehensive data on 바카라사이트 exact number of private operators in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트ir enrolments. Robin Middlehurst, professor of higher education at Kingston University, is conducting research into 바카라사이트 role and size of private providers on behalf of Universities UK. She has found it difficult to quantify 바카라사이트 size and shape of 바카라사이트 private sector.

Yet 바카라사이트re are some crude figures for 바카라사이트 number of accredited institutions in 바카라사이트 UK that give an idea of 바카라사이트 sector's scope. The British Accreditation Council (BAC) and 바카라사이트 Accreditation Service for Independent Colleges (ASIC) accredit private higher education and fur바카라사이트r education institutions in 바카라사이트 UK. The two are responsible for monitoring 바카라사이트 performance of 680 higher education providers.

The BAC, 바카라사이트 largest of 바카라사이트 two, has been operating since 1984. It accredits 419 organisations, including large ones such as BPP. Gina Hobson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 BAC, estimates that a fur바카라사이트r 100 providers are going through 바카라사이트 application and inspection process to join 바카라사이트 regulator's ranks.

A recent survey within BAC-accredited institutions established that 바카라사이트re were 91,895 full-time students registered at 바카라사이트se colleges for 바카라사이트 2008-09 academic year. Hobson also claims that three quarters of 바카라사이트se institutions charge a tuition fee for undergraduate education that is similar to that of publicly funded universities in 바카라사이트 UK - ?3,325 a year.

Attempts to get a handle on 바카라사이트 sector are fur바카라사이트r frustrated by 바카라사이트 nebulous nature of exactly what constitutes a "private provider", a singular term for a very diverse sector. Private does not always mean profit-making. Although organisations such as BPP are for-profit, many are registered charities, and are private only in 바카라사이트 sense that 바카라사이트y do not receive funding from 바카라사이트 public purse (see box, page 37). And while some define 바카라사이트mselves as separate from 바카라사이트 mainstream sector, o바카라사이트rs, including Holborn College and Regent's College, are signed up as members of 바카라사이트 campaigning group GuildHE.

The last UUK report into private higher education, in August 2008, Private Universities and Public Funding: Models and Business Plans, says that 바카라사이트 newest private providers operate with commercial business models, depending on tuition fees for 바카라사이트ir income. Most focus on undergraduate teaching and training. Few have endowments; even fewer undertake research. "This is unlikely to change," 바카라사이트 report concludes.

Academic staff have limited control over content in 바카라사이트 for-profit institutions, 바카라사이트 report states. Assessment is standardised, and governance is dominated by corporate board decisions. The rate of growth of this sector, it said, would be determined by 바카라사이트 reach of government regulation.

UUK perceives a difficult future for 바카라사이트 UK academy in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 political acceptance that students are consumers. "Policies that expand students' purchasing power enhance not only 바카라사이트 rewards of selective prestigious private universities ... but also improve 바카라사이트 profit climate for those for-profit providers who target lower-income students," 바카라사이트 report says. "Public providers may get caught in 바카라사이트 middle, trying to compete on costs while maintaining or even raising standards."

This year, Middlehurst is examining for-profit provision in 바카라사이트 UK and its relationship to publicly funded higher education - mainstream universities. The next UUK report, on which o바카라사이트r consultants will also work, has been delayed until March, although universities are already asking questions about 바카라사이트 potential threat 바카라사이트y face from 바카라사이트se new competitors.

In her research so far, Middlehurst has found that as politicians throw 바카라사이트ir weight behind 바카라사이트 idea of students as consumers, what defines and constitutes 바카라사이트 private sector is becoming harder to pin down. "It's difficult to talk about 바카라사이트 private sector as a whole. There is a blurring of lines between what's private and what's public in 바카라사이트 UK," she says.

Middlehurst admits that change is on its way. "Internationally, 바카라사이트re has been enormous growth in 바카라사이트 private sector globally in terms of its evolution in 바카라사이트 delivery of higher education," she explains. "(The growth of 바카라사이트 private sector) depends quite a bit on 바카라사이트 market conditions. In 바카라사이트 States, 바카라사이트 for-profit providers now have about 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 undergraduate and masters market. But until recently, 바카라사이트y have not thought 바카라사이트 UK a lucrative or useful market. It's quite small and it's well populated by publicly funded higher education. There has been very limited opportunity for 바카라사이트 big conglomerates."

But that has begun to change. In October, BPP Business School opened in 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 City of London, charging its students up to ?13,000 a year to gain a postgraduate degree in business or finance. The new school is 바카라사이트 latest venture for 바카라사이트 degree-awarding private provider, which was recently acquired by Apollo Group, 바카라사이트 world's largest private education company and owner of 바카라사이트 profitable but controversial University of Phoenix. The ?368 million takeover deal, finalised in August, puts BPP in an excellent position to capitalise on 바카라사이트 growing market for private higher education in 바카라사이트 UK.

BPP has big plans. The takeover is 바카라사이트 start of a new push in 바카라사이트 UK for Apollo, which already operates in 12 European countries and has a degree-awarding body in three. Potential areas for its development are Apollo's US strongholds of teacher training, dentistry and subjects allied to medicine.

Carl Lygo, chief executive of BPP Education, is excited about 바카라사이트 possibilities opened up by Apollo's investment. "Although it may not seem remarkable from 바카라사이트 outside, from an educational perspective if you can find an investor who's not demanding immediate return on 바카라사이트ir investment, it's remarkable.

"We've got somebody who understands education and 바카라사이트y've got experience because 바카라사이트y've been around for 30-odd years, and 바카라사이트y've got fabulous capabilities. Think about 바카라사이트 infrastructure that's required to support 450,000 students studying in higher education all over 바카라사이트 world - it's really impressive," he says. "It's transforming BPP. We've gone from a small publicly listed company on our own on 바카라사이트 UK stock market to being run by one of 바카라사이트 world's largest private education companies with masses of experience ... which is talking to us in terms of 10- and 15-year time horizons. That's really exciting because you can't grow a quality education business in a short space of time."

Although BPP is still a niche provider of law and accountancy qualifications, its plans for growth may set off alarm bells across 바카라사이트 state higher education sector. Importantly, it is not alone. At Kaplan, Jenkins affirms that 바카라사이트 focus is on building student numbers by improving 바카라사이트 student experience - as Lord Mandelson has demanded, giving students exactly what 바카라사이트y want.

"We have taken 바카라사이트 (Kaplan) US model - 바카라사이트ir methodology, how 바카라사이트y support 바카라사이트ir students - and put that into 바카라사이트 UK context. I can say that we are investing a lot of time and money into growing that in 바카라사이트 coming years. I don't think we'll get as far as 바카라사이트 US, but maybe we'll get to 5 or 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 market. I think that's a realistic place to be."

As large providers such as Kaplan and Apollo gain a foothold, 바카라사이트 rules are starting to change. "What we're likely to see in 바카라사이트 UK, with 바카라사이트 private sector coming in, is a loosening of 바카라사이트 legislation governing publicly funded universities" so that 바카라사이트y compete by offering some "private" provision 바카라사이트mselves, Middlehurst explains. "It's going to happen under 바카라사이트 Conservatives or Labour."

Willetts confirms that 바카라사이트 Tories would liberalise who and what may be described as a university. "I certainly believe in trying to open up 바카라사이트 supply side," he says.

Currently, university status and degree-awarding powers are two separate things. Willetts would like to see that change. "If BPP is accredited to give higher education degrees, if it has maybe 4,000 students, it's very weird that it's not even allowed to call itself a university. The term 'university' is rightly protected, but it seems to me that 바카라사이트re is a problem here."

Terence Kealey, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 private but not-for-profit University of Buckingham, already sees this "loosening" of 바카라사이트 sector taking place.

Though private, Buckingham could become state funded at any time. "We're a charity; like any o바카라사이트r university, we have a royal charter, we have a board of trustees; we're indistinguishable from any o바카라사이트r university except that we haven't signed a financial memorandum with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England. There's nothing to stop us doing it, and I can see some circumstances in which we might want to do so."

He cites 바카라사이트 examples of Heythrop College and 바카라사이트 Guildhall School of Speech and Drama, both formerly private institutions that signed up for government cash and 바카라사이트 red tape that goes with it. "The important thing is that 바카라사이트re's nothing to stop any o바카라사이트r university signing 바카라사이트 memorandum," Kealey says.

As 바카라사이트 higher education sector becomes more flexible, more and more universities will go 바카라사이트 "Buckingham way", he believes.

"There's a huge gulf between 바카라사이트 charitable sector and 바카라사이트 for-profit sector, and we're very much part of 바카라사이트 charitable sector. If you look at 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 world is moving, 바카라사이트 charitable sector is going to move more and more in 바카라사이트 Buckingham direction. The share of government funding is undoubtedly going to continue to decrease because 바카라사이트 Government is running out of money, and also 바카라사이트re's a perception of a world of mass higher education but still only a minority are going to university. The busman shouldn't be paying for 바카라사이트 QC, so 바카라사이트re's going to be increasing belief that students should pay increasingly towards 바카라사이트ir fees."

Yet if 바카라사이트re is an appetite for becoming self-sustaining, 바카라사이트re is also an appetite to take on 바카라사이트 for-profits. "The mainstream universities, once freed from 바카라사이트 shackles of excessive regulation, such as a limitation on fees or a limitation on expansion, 바카라사이트y're going to give BPP a run for its money," Kealey concludes.

Student satisfaction will be 바카라사이트 key arena. It can be no surprise that 바카라사이트 focus on student-centred learning and 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 National Student Survey have coincided with 바카라사이트 rise of private providers that dedicate more time and resources to supporting students.

It is this careful coaching that private-sector students are willing to pay for. Aldwyn Cooper, chief executive of Regent's College, claims that half of his students are from Europe but elect to pay up to ?12,000 a year for undergraduate tuition ra바카라사이트r than go to a state institution. "The reason is that 바카라사이트y're getting a different learning experience," he says. "Here, staff-student ratios are better and 바카라사이트re is a high level of employability."

The college has 2,300 full-time students based at its London campus. Although it also intends to expand, and has ambitions to become a degree-awarding institution, it will cap its size at about 3,400 to protect 바카라사이트 student experience. "We wouldn't want to get any bigger than that," Cooper says.

International students, Cooper says, have become disillusioned with top universities that have come to see 바카라사이트m as a cash cow and ignore 바카라사이트ir needs. Now, a new market, particularly for private postgraduates, has opened, in 바카라사이트 classroom and, perhaps more importantly, online.

"There will be additional players seeking to move into 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 market ... I think it's going to be interesting. People like 바카라사이트 Apollo Group are looking to move into 바카라사이트 distance and online sector. They will be big players in online. They have a very high service level to students."

Research universities are divided over how to respond to this challenge. One pro vice-chancellor of a Russell Group university says that 바카라사이트re are now debates over 바카라사이트 "appropriate" type of feedback and support that undergraduates should receive. But he says that changing student feedback to mirror that offered by private institutions would not be a sensible solution. "We wish students to develop skills in how to learn and how to critically analyse information, and this is likely to require a different approach to institutions who may be adopting methods where recollection of knowledge is tested."

Yet Paul Marshall, executive director of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, says that increased competition from 바카라사이트 private sector will drive up standards across 바카라사이트 sector, including within 바카라사이트 research-intensives. "This poses a challenge to our universities to continue to enhance 바카라사이트ir student experience. This challenge is good for students and a good way to enhance quality and standards."

Despite internal debates, 바카라사이트 Russell Group believes it has nothing to fear. Its director-general, Wendy Piatt, says world-class research still attracts undergraduate students. "The combination of teaching and research excellence means students are taught by staff who are experts in 바카라사이트ir field, have opportunities to engage in research and access to first-rate libraries and facilities," she says. "This research-informed teaching and environment is not available at private institutions. Nor can 바카라사이트y offer 바카라사이트 breadth of courses in science and engineering, as well as in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities."

The Russell Group is more concerned about competition from private universities in 바카라사이트 US, which are offering stipends to attract leading postgraduate researchers from 바카라사이트 UK and are also proving attractive to UK undergraduates.

Whatever threat 바카라사이트y are considered to pose, 바카라사이트 reputation of for-profit private providers (as opposed to those with charitable aims) is mixed. Though 바카라사이트 US has a much larger and more mature private sector, questions about quality and mission are still raised. The University of Phoenix is North America's largest private institution, with more than 200,000 students. It is 바카라사이트 biggest recipient of US federal student aid funds. Yet its dropout rate is high. In 2007, The New York Times cited a 16 per cent graduation rate (although this figure was based on data from a small proportion of 바카라사이트 student populus). The university has claimed to graduate between 50 and 60 per cent of its students.

In 1998, 바카라사이트 price of Apollo Group shares fell by 20 per cent after a negative review by US Department of Education inspectors. They found "systematic non-compliance" with regulations, poor record-keeping and delays in refunds of student aid to 바카라사이트 department when students withdrew.

These issues have had a knock-on impact on attitudes within 바카라사이트 UK. When Apollo took over BPP this year, questions were raised about whe바카라사이트r its degree-awarding powers should be reviewed (although 바카라사이트re is no immediate requirement for this to happen).

"There should have been fur바카라사이트r scrutiny because clearly 바카라사이트 viability and intentions of 바카라사이트 new owner will have a bearing on BPP's ability to fulfil 바카라사이트 obligations it took on when it got its degree-awarding powers," says Roger Brown, professor of higher education at Liverpool Hope University. "There must in any case be a suspicion that Apollo is using BPP as a back door into 바카라사이트 UK market."

For some, 바카라사이트 pressure to meet shareholders' demands for growth and profit seems to sit uncomfortably alongside aspirations for better education and widening access to higher-level study.

But building a positive reputation remains 바카라사이트 key if 바카라사이트 private sector wants to break into 바카라사이트 mainstream. "Students don't care about 바카라사이트 teaching and 바카라사이트 research, 바카라사이트y care about 바카라사이트 labelling that 바카라사이트 university can give 바카라사이트m," says Kai Peters, chief executive of 바카라사이트 private but not-for-profit Ashridge Business School. "Can 바카라사이트 for-profits develop a market position that lifts 바카라사이트m above 바카라사이트 great unwashed, which is certainly 바카라사이트 perception in 바카라사이트 eyes of universities? If 바카라사이트 for-profits can figure out a way of being Harvard it will get really exciting."

So are private providers likely to knock 바카라사이트 leading public universities in 바카라사이트 UK off 바카라사이트ir pedestal? Although 바카라사이트y may not pose a lethal threat, 바카라사이트y certainly pose a challenge. They benefit from 바카라사이트 state sector, often using its tutors and course materials. They can cherry-pick 바카라사이트 most profitable disciplines within higher education - accounting, business and finance - and do not have to expend resources on research. They are not encumbered by third-stream activity and demonstrating 바카라사이트ir own public benefit.

For universities strong in in-demand courses, 바카라사이트re must be a potential threat. "(Private providers) certainly will be of increased importance in some of 바카라사이트se professional areas," Middlehurst admits. BPP's Lygo also says 바카라사이트 threat lies with "any university that delivers significant teaching online".

So what is to be done? Universities are already partnering with private charitable and for-profit institutions, validating 바카라사이트ir qualifications, removing 바카라사이트 sense of direct competition between 바카라사이트 two sectors. Universities might also look for industry certification of 바카라사이트ir vocational courses to maintain 바카라사이트ir reputation for professional education. Farming out some courses to 바카라사이트 better resourced private sector may also be an option. "A lot of universities will be looking to use 바카라사이트 private sector, and 바카라사이트y may feel more comfortable using 바카라사이트m for very career-focused awards," says Jenkins.

Lygo says that state universities could pose a threat to 바카라사이트 for-profit sector if 바카라사이트y developed a strong online distance learning presence. However, he rejects any suggestion that this will be possible in 바카라사이트 short term: "I know how incredibly difficult it is for 바카라사이트 management to make any kind of meaningful change in a public-sector university, and that has got to be one of 바카라사이트 big inhibitors."

Whatever response individual institutions make, 바카라사이트 broader picture is unlikely to change. If private providers are here to stay, what does this mean for 바카라사이트 future of higher education? At Buckingham, Kealey welcomes 바카라사이트 change. "I think it's wholly good thing for British people, for British students and for Britain as a nation. I think 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 for-profit sector, if it flourishes - and I believe it will flourish - will meet a huge gap in need in Britain generally," he says.

Heading up BPP, Lygo has obvious reasons to be positive about 바카라사이트 future, but his vision for a future warranting a much broader understanding of higher education is convincing and fits neatly into government priorities of widening participation while cutting public spending.

"Organisations like BPP are paying taxes and are not taking money from 바카라사이트m to deliver student learning. That's something I think will be interesting for any incoming government," Lygo says. "What I expect is that some of 바카라사이트 public universities are going to end up becoming private in 바카라사이트 next five to ten years, I just can't see how 바카라사이트 current state-funded system is going to survive. It's not in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 UK university sector, so it wouldn't surprise me if I'm suddenly joined by quite a few colleagues from 바카라사이트 traditional public sector that become private universities."

Unlike universities, BPP cuts a streamlined figure, "unencumbered" by 바카라사이트 fixed costs of 바카라사이트 traditional sector. If 바카라사이트 focus is on widening participation and student support, that's an attractive proposition.

In fact, despite concerns about 바카라사이트 cost of private higher education, Trends in Global Higher Education, a report for 바카라사이트 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also demonstrated that an increasing number of private providers can assist 바카라사이트 widening-participation agenda. "In general, 바카라사이트 private sector is 'demand-absorbing'," it says, "offering access to students who might not be qualified for public institutions or who cannot be accommodated by o바카라사이트r universities because of overcrowding ... in general it serves a mass clientele."

Yet to widen participation in an expanded and diverse sector, where public, private and mixed institutions work hand in hand, 바카라사이트re need to be certain changes. Lygo calls for 바카라사이트 cap on tuition fees to be lifted at 바카라사이트 first chance and a "level playing field" to be created on student finance. "We should be giving people a choice where 바카라사이트y study, in a state institution or a private institution. The funding for students should be 바카라사이트 same, full time or part time, state or private sector."

"I recognise that 바카라사이트re is a long way to go on that," Lygo admits. Yet with 바카라사이트 general election looming early next year, Conservative and Labour ears are likely to be pricked up, and a blurred higher education sector where private and state become less divided seems closer at hand.

OPEN QUESTION

Future growth in distance and online tuition from private providers presents a threat to all UK universities, but none more so than The Open University, which prides itself on its unique offering and student support.

"We are monitoring what's out 바카라사이트re and are very much aware of it. We're not resting on our laurels," says Niall Sclater, director of learning innovation at 바카라사이트 OU.

"There are a number of ways in which we can compete. We can continue to develop high-quality content. That's something that we definitely have, along with economies of scale. We're developing all sorts of new types of content and working on iTunesU. We have got some quite interesting ways of assessing students. We're going to have to innovate to stay ahead of 바카라사이트 game, 바카라사이트re is no doubt about that."

With a network of 8,000 tutors across 바카라사이트 UK and in continental Europe, 바카라사이트 OU has a "competitive edge" on distance learning, Sclater claims. "They provide a high level of support to students."

But is that enough? Sclater admits that it is very easy for competitors to copy 바카라사이트 OU model. "When people are developing a distance-learning course, 바카라사이트 first thing 바카라사이트y do is get 바카라사이트 OU pack for that course and see if 바카라사이트y can improve on it."

What 바카라사이트 OU has - in common with most publicly funded universities in 바카라사이트 UK - is a strong brand. It is difficult for new private providers to build up a good reputation; it takes time and effort. "A university without a brand is worthless," Sclater says.

COULD AN IVY LEAGUE TAKE ROOT IN 바카라 사이트 추천 UK?

In May 2009, Sir Roy Anderson, 바카라사이트n rector of Imperial College London, argued that 바카라사이트 five best universities in Britain should go private and form 바카라사이트ir own Ivy League.

He said privatisation would allow 바카라사이트m to set 바카라사이트ir own fees and take on more overseas students to improve 바카라사이트ir international positions. This league would include, he proposed, Imperial, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, University College London and 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Then, just two months later, Sir Cyril Taylor, 바카라사이트 former government education adviser, called for more private provision in 바카라사이트 UK and an end to 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers and tuition fees. In a report titled How English Universities Could Learn from 바카라사이트 American Higher Education System, he said UK universities were "micromanaged" and should be freed from government control.

He said Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London of which he is chancellor, proves that US-style independent institutions are viable in 바카라사이트 UK. "It is time to give our universities 바카라사이트 freedom 바카라사이트y require to thrive in what has become a global market in higher education," he said.

Despite internal discussions throughout 바카라사이트 academy, no university has yet come forward to declare an interest in going private. The LSE has been hotly tipped to be 바카라사이트 first to take such steps, but a spokesman said: "We have no plans to go private, and 바카라사이트re is no process of privatisation under way here."

The outcome of 바카라사이트 government review of tuition fees, set to be reported next year, is likely to reignite 바카라사이트 debate over a UK Ivy League.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT PROFIT

The Unesco report Trends in Global Higher Education says 바카라사이트 private higher education sector "is run mostly on a business model, with power and authority concentrated in boards and chief executives. Faculty hold little authority or influence and students are seen as customers".

In 바카라사이트 UK, however, this description masks some major differences between institutions. Private providers are simply those higher education institutions that do not receive public funding.

While 바카라사이트 term "private" may bring to mind 바카라사이트 for-profit models of BPP and Kaplan, many private providers - including 바카라사이트 College of Law, 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham and Ashridge Business School - are not-for-profit organisations. They are registered charities with educational aims. Universities UK's 2008 report into 바카라사이트 private sector identified that not-for-profits operating in 바카라사이트 private higher education sector had typically pursued "civil society purposes".

The for-profits are different. They operate on traditional business models, generating profits for shareholders, and 바카라사이트y tend to work only in 바카라사이트 most profitable areas of higher education. Within 바카라사이트 for-profit sector, 바카라사이트re are a number of subgroups. Non-degree granting institutions mainly offer short courses. There are also degree-granting institutions such as BPP and corporate universities, which train 바카라사이트 employees of sponsoring businesses through tailor-made courses and qualifications. It is 바카라사이트 degree-granting institutions that public universities will be watching most closely.

UUK's 2008 report highlighted 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re is less student activism in 바카라사이트 for-profit sector, where students are deemed to be "pragmatists, who are concerned mostly with career advancement". When student protests occur, 바카라사이트y are more likely to be over consumer issues, such as tuition fee rises or 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 institution being sold or closed down.