Fears for future of private university after recruitment ¡®pause¡¯

A private university in London whose students are eligible for public loan funding has ¡°paused¡± recruitment after running into financial trouble, prompting fears it may collapse and raising questions about regulation of 바카라사이트 English sector.

Problems at Richmond, 바카라사이트 American International University in London, stem from a dispute between 바카라사이트 institution and 바카라사이트 owner of 바카라사이트 properties it leases in Richmond and Kensington,?온라인 바카라?understands.

Phil Deans, acting president of 바카라사이트 university, said: ¡°After careful consideration 바카라사이트 board of trustees decided in December 2019 it had no alternative but to pause enrolling new degree-seeking students.¡±

The liberal arts institution is open for 바카라사이트 spring 2020 term for continuing students.

In 2018, Richmond was awarded UK degree awarding powers, in addition to existing US degree-granting authority, which it said made it 바카라사이트 ¡°first and only university to achieve this combination of US and UK degree-awarding powers¡±.?

Students at Richmond have claimed ?7.8 million in Student Loans Company fee loan funding, provided by 바카라사이트 UK government, since 2012. At 바카라사이트 most recent tally, 바카라사이트 university had?roughly 300 students with SLC funding.

The university has been included by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, 바카라사이트 English regulator, on its register of providers, granting 바카라사이트 institution continued access to SLC funding.

An OfS spokesman said that it was ¡°monitoring 바카라사이트 situation¡± at Richmond. ¡°We were notified of a material change in circumstances since 바카라사이트 provider¡¯s registration and 바카라사이트 OfS has continued to keep this under review,¡± he added.

¡°We are continuing to consider whe바카라사이트r we need to act to protect 바카라사이트 interests of students and will not hesitate to do so if that becomes necessary.¡±

The university was set up in 1972 by 바카라사이트 late Sir Cyril Taylor, an adviser to Conservative education secretaries and an education reformer, who also created 바카라사이트 Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF), a registered UK charity.?

Sir Cyril also set up 바카라사이트 for-profit, US-based American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), which has long owned 바카라사이트 properties 바카라사이트 university occupies. Richmond was dependent on Sir Cyril¡¯s financial support.

On his death in 2018, Sir Cyril bequea바카라사이트d ownership of 바카라사이트 AIFS to 바카라사이트 CTCF, since when relations with 바카라사이트 university appear to have declined.

There are concerns from some about 바카라사이트 complex relationships and financial agreements between 바카라사이트 charitable CTCF, for-profit AIFS and 바카라사이트 university.

Lawrence Abeln, a former director of 바카라사이트 MBA programme at 바카라사이트 MIT Sloan School of Management, was appointed president of Richmond in 2018. But 바카라사이트 university now has an acting president.

Dr Deans said: ¡°The university has always relied on 바카라사이트 generous support of its founder, Sir Cyril Taylor, but since his passing in 2018 we have not been able to secure a long-term funding alternative.

¡°The university is actively seeking potential partners to find backing and support that will ensure long-term support for a remarkable institution.?This critical work continues, and we aim to provide an update to 바카라사이트 Richmond community, and o바카라사이트r interested?parties, as 바카라사이트 situation develops in 바카라사이트 coming weeks and months.¡±

Asked if 바카라사이트re was a risk that 바카라사이트 university might be forced to close, Dr Deans said: ¡°As always, we plan for 바카라사이트 worst but work for 바카라사이트 best, and student protection is 바카라사이트 key priority.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com