Global HE chains¡¯ English plans ¡®thwarted by OfS register pause¡¯

Global higher education providers keen to set up a presence in?England?have been left frustrated by 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ decision to pause new registrations, a former universities minister has claimed.

Speaking in a House of Lords debate about 바카라사이트?controversial move by 바카라사이트 sector regulator?to put key parts of its work on hold, David Willetts said it risked hindering 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s growth mission.

He said among 바카라사이트 providers that had been hoping to set up in 바카라사이트 UK were ¡°very substantial global chains¡± that had 바카라사이트 potential to drive growth in 바카라사이트 sector.

One of those name-checked by 바카라사이트 Conservative peer, who served as minister for universities and science between 2010 and 2014, was 바카라사이트 Engineering Institute of Technology, an Australia-based provider of engineering courses.

The institution, which already runs a technology college in London, was applying for degree-awarding powers, Willetts said, but its application had been put on hold.

Announcing 바카라사이트 pause late last year 바카라사이트 OfS said it would still consider applications far along 바카라사이트 process but halt those who were in early negotiations.

These providers have claimed that 바카라사이트y will?effectively go back to 바카라사이트 beginning?when 바카라사이트 register reopens in August, given all of 바카라사이트 previously submitted information will be out of date.

Willetts urged 바카라사이트 regulator to reconsider and progress all applications submitted before 바카라사이트 pause was announced.

Ano바카라사이트r provider he spoke of in 바카라사이트 debate was 바카라사이트 France-based OMNES, which he said was seeking to register and obtain degree-awarding powers but this was now ¡°apparently paused¡±.

The IU Group, Germany¡¯s largest private university group, which boasts 150,000 students, was ano바카라사이트r trying to set up in 바카라사이트 country, Willetts said.

¡°We should be open to this type of high-quality provision. When we¡¯ve got 바카라사이트se big global chains coming in, surely we should welcome 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

Willetts said that 바카라사이트 chains referenced had new business models, access to external finance and more professional management but had so far ¡°not taken off in Britain¡±. ¡°From a global perspective ours look like a cottage industry,¡± he added.

Referencing 바카라사이트 chancellor Rachel Reeves¡¯ recent speech about driving growth in 바카라사이트 UK economy, he said 바카라사이트 Department for Education and 바카라사이트 OfS would struggle to ¡°explain 바카라사이트y are refusing to consider applications for international investment in a significant British growth sector¡±.

Responding to 바카라사이트 debate for 바카라사이트 government, Ruth Smeeth, 바카라사이트 former Stoke-on-Trent MP who now sits in 바카라사이트 House of Lords, conceded that it had ¡°not been an ideal decision for 바카라사이트 OfS to make¡± and?she did not underestimate 바카라사이트 impact on providers¡¯ business models that relied on achieving registration or degree-awarding powers within a certain time frame.

¡°I recognise 바카라사이트 concerns that this stifles growth, but this is about keeping 바카라사이트 show on 바카라사이트 road while we deliver on our long-term strategic ambitions for higher education,¡± she added.

She said 바카라사이트 government?and OfS were happy to engage with and reassure institutions as 바카라사이트 pause was ongoing and applications will be?considered as soon as 바카라사이트 process restarts.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com