Bolton to bolt ahead on status

Bolton Institute, 바카라사이트 unlucky loser in John Patten's 1994 moratorium on university status, has been offered a fast track to upgrading.

Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, has ruled that Bolton will be allowed to apply for university status in February 1997. Bolton, which won teaching degree status in 1992, had expected to wait until October 1998, three years after it received research degree awarding powers, 바카라사이트 normal qualifying period.

But Mrs Shephard has recognised Bolton's ill luck in having its application delayed by 바카라사이트 Department for Education in 1994 while her predecessor John Patten was considering 바카라사이트 criteria for university status. The Higher Education Quality Council, which advises on degree-awarding powers, said in December 1993 that Bolton fulfilled 바카라사이트 research criteria.

Mrs Shephard has advised 바카라사이트 Privy Council, which awards university status, to treat Bolton as though it has held research status since February 1994. It is 바카라사이트 only institution with both sets of degree-awarding powers that does not have university status.

The application will be considered by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council, whose committee on degree-awarding powers will assess Bolton's record against criteria for university status. Institutions are expected to demonstrate 바카라사이트 ability to maintain degree standards in different subject areas, and to have strategic plans which offer 바카라사이트 prospect of standards being maintained in 바카라사이트 future.

Bolton principal Bob Oxtoby said: "The main difference university status would make is that our competitors already have that status. The implications for Bolton's status as a town are also significant."