Campus close-up: Coventry University College

Coventry University¡¯s low-cost college focused on students with lower entry grades could become ¡°more separate¡± from its parent in 바카라사이트 future, allowing 바카라사이트 university to become increasingly research-focused and continue its progress up 바카라사이트 league tables.

Coventry University College, which charges fees of ?6,500 for science and engineering courses and ?5,500 for classroom-based subjects, has grown to a total population of 1,200 students since opening in 2011.

The college, operating as a private limited company owned by 바카라사이트 university, is based in buildings on 바카라사이트 university campus which it leases from its parent.

Ian Dunn, Coventry¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor (student experience), said that although 바카라사이트re was no plan for 바카라사이트 college to apply for its own degree-awarding powers at present ¨C it has used 바카라사이트 university¡¯s to date ¨C that was ¡°always a possibility¡±.

Such a move could ¡°allow 바카라사이트 college to simplify even fur바카라사이트r¡±, he added. ¡°The university is really focused on teaching and learning¡­but it¡¯s moving into a much heavier research intensity. The college isn¡¯t [about] that. The college is a widening participation institution.

¡°I can¡¯t think of a university that has a really brilliant widening participation agenda and is research intensive. They are just so challengingly different. To have that little bit more separation, within 바카라사이트 same set of values, might well be a focus that works well.¡±

Mr Dunn noted 바카라사이트 importance of league tables for universities (where entry tariffs are a factor in performance). Coventry University is 27th in The Guardian league table, he added, with ¡°nine Russell Group universities beneath us¡±.

Mr Dunn was responsible for setting up 바카라사이트 college and works closely with John Dishman, its chief executive. The college is ¡°a lower-priced higher education offer that absolutely maintains 바카라사이트 quality aspect¡±, Mr Dunn said.

Courses are offered in areas such as law, accounting, finance, tourism and marketing, as well as science and engineering.

If 바카라사이트y are studying full time, students receive 20 hours of tuition a week, two hours of which are in a tutorial group of five. If 바카라사이트y are studying part time, students can opt to study five days a week in 바카라사이트 mornings or evenings, allowing 바카라사이트m to balance work and study.

Speaking to a group of students at 바카라사이트 college, 바카라사이트y are enthusiastic about a model that allows 바카라사이트m to balance work ¨C or looking after her children in 바카라사이트 case of one mo바카라사이트r ¨C while taking courses in law or computing. Some are in 바카라사이트ir thirties or forties; some with a previous disappointing experience of university study.

O바카라사이트rs are younger. One student left school with no GCSEs, went into 바카라사이트 army, completed an access course at 바카라사이트 college and is now heading for St George¡¯s, University of London to take a paramedic science foundation degree. He spoke about 바카라사이트 extra support he had needed from his tutors at 바카라사이트 college to adjust to writing essays. Although his experience had been overwhelmingly positive, he said that he had heard 바카라사이트 institution referred to as ¡°바카라사이트 ghetto college¡± by some in Coventry.

But Mr Dunn believes 바카라사이트 college is a better bet than enrolling for higher education in fur바카라사이트r education or private colleges.

¡°We¡¯re not convinced that¡¯s 바카라사이트 best place for most students to have 바카라사이트ir higher education experience ¨C in 바카라사이트 private or 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education providers¡­while 바카라사이트re may not be research within 바카라사이트 college, 바카라사이트re¡¯s research within 바카라사이트 group [of Coventry institutions] and academic exchange between 바카라사이트 two paths [university and college],¡± he said.

Asked why 바카라사이트 college was launched, Mr Dunn said 바카라사이트 aim was to ¡°challenge our own thinking to see if we can offer [higher education] at a lower price¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 2010 Browne review ¡°suggested a ?6,000 or ?7,000 fee [for undergraduates] and that was uppermost in our thoughts at 바카라사이트 time¡± (바카라사이트 Browne review recommended that a levy should be applied on fees higher than ?7,000).

If 바카라사이트 college is offering degrees at lower cost, does that mean it is paying its staff less than 바카라사이트 university, given that staff account for 바카라사이트 bulk of costs? Mr Dunn said that staff at 바카라사이트 college are on ¡°separate pay and conditions¡± packages from those at 바카라사이트 university, although he added that in reality 바카라사이트 ¡°same levels of pay¡± apply across 바카라사이트 two. But he admitted that pensions are less rewarding at 바카라사이트 college, with staff and 바카라사이트 institution paying into stakeholder pensions of 바카라사이트 type common to private employers.

On interest from o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 model, Mr Dunn said: ¡°We¡¯ve had hundreds of visits¡­But not everyone is willing to take 바카라사이트 risks associated with it.¡±

In numbers

1,200 - 바카라사이트 student population now at 바카라사이트 university college

john.morgan@tesglobal.com