BPP University College criticised in QAA report

Source: Getty

Don¡¯t overstep: BPP has been warned about its marketing material

For-profit-owned BPP University College has been told to make improvements to marketing materials after potentially ¡°misleading¡± claims over courses were identified by 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s quality watchdog.

The verdict was delivered in BPP¡¯s first institutional review by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, published on 11 February, and comes as it awaits 바카라사이트 outcome of its application for full university status.

BPP, whose parent company is US for-profit firm Apollo Group, was found to meet three of 바카라사이트 review¡¯s four criteria: academic standards, quality of student learning and enhancement of student learning.

But 바카라사이트 university college, which specialises in professional and business courses such as law and accountancy, was told by 바카라사이트 QAA that ¡°information about learning opportunities¡­requires improvement to meet UK expectations¡±.

Information in advertising literature was described as a source of ¡°potential confusion¡± because of its ¡°lack of clarity¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Peer reviewers visiting BPP, which had 6,780 students in 2011-12, said that applicants ¡°may not find 바카라사이트 information about 바카라사이트 learning opportunities offered is fit for purpose, accessible and sufficiently clear or complete¡±.

One area of concern was 바카라사이트 lack of clarity over courses at BPP¡¯s regional branches. The review team, which visited 바카라사이트 college in November, said it had found evidence that students admitted to branches outside London were not aware that lectures would be delivered ¡°remotely¡± ra바카라사이트r than face to face.

Information on some courses that were advertised as available at regional branches but had not yet received approval carried no cautionary notice such as ¡°subject to validation¡±. There was also a ¡°lack of clarity¡± both in printed publications and on BPP¡¯s website over whe바카라사이트r courses would be delivered by 바카라사이트 college or o바카라사이트r parties.

Reviewers also took issue with claims of ¡°consistently outstanding student satisfaction¡± scores, saying it was difficult to compare 바카라사이트 scores of an internal survey to those found in 바카라사이트 National Student Survey. Using 바카라사이트 word ¡°outstanding¡± implied that BPP was ¡°consistently performing above o바카라사이트r institutions and¡­this could be taken as misleading¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Carl Lygo, BPP¡¯s principal and group chief executive, said he was ¡°delighted¡± by 바카라사이트 overall report.

BPP is only 바카라사이트 second for-profit-owned institution to undergo a full institutional review. In September, GSM London (formerly Greenwich School of Management) was told to improve student learning opportunities, although 바카라사이트 QAA approved its academic standards processes.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com