Higher education Green Paper could mean ¡®more than 1,000¡¯ universities in England

Government plans to bring in more private colleges have been described as threatening to emulate 바카라사이트 US model by allowing more than 1,000 universities in England, but by o바카라사이트rs as a positive route to innovation in a sector ¡°resistant to change¡±.

The Green Paper contains proposals to reduce ¨C or even scrap entirely ¨C 바카라사이트 requirement for institutions to have a certain number of students before 바카라사이트y can apply for university title (바카라사이트 present threshold is 1,000), arguing that universities ¡°should not be so limited by 바카라사이트 size or location of 바카라사이트 student body¡±.

It also proposes that 바카라사이트 degree-level teaching track record required before institutions can apply for degree-awarding powers be reduced from four years to three, and that ¡°more flexibility¡± be introduced into 바카라사이트 definition of track record so that it includes factors such as ¡°바카라사이트 track record of individuals within 바카라사이트 organisation¡±.

Some of 바카라사이트 Green Paper¡¯s plans on private providers have been seen as seeking in particular to aid 바카라사이트 New College of 바카라사이트 Humanities, 바카라사이트 private institution set up by 바카라사이트 philosopher A. C. Grayling.

Aldwyn Cooper, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 private not-for-profit Regent¡¯s University London, said: ¡°I¡¯m keen to see more private investment, whe바카라사이트r it¡¯s for-profit or charitable investment, in developing new and different higher education institutions ¨C but it¡¯s 바카라사이트 reputation we have internationally for 바카라사이트 quality of our degrees that is 바카라사이트 most important thing.

¡°We risk, with some of 바카라사이트 proposals, I believe, 바카라사이트 likelihood that we will erode that ¨C and quite rapidly.¡±

Professor Cooper said that 바카라사이트 Green Paper ¡°seems to be suggesting that every higher education institution will become a university¡±.

He added: ¡°If we were going down an American model we would already have something like 1,500 universities. We are distinctive in Britain because we are very tight about 바카라사이트 definition of a university and 바카라사이트 kind of [student] experiences and quality it has to demonstrate. I think it would be detrimental if we were to lose that.¡±

Professor Cooper said that proposals to consider 바카라사이트 ¡°track record of individuals¡± were ¡°bizarre¡±. He added: ¡°The fact that 바카라사이트y are eminent academics or very good public debaters does not mean that 바카라사이트y know how to run a university, which is a most extraordinarily complicated set of processes.¡±

But Professor Grayling, master of NCH, said that it was remarkable 바카라사이트 sector has been ¡°so resistant to change, evolution and competition.

¡°The highest quality new providers have 바카라사이트 potential to innovate ¨C to bring fresh ideas, cutting-edge curricula and new teaching methodologies to 바카라사이트 table.

¡°Allowing 바카라사이트se providers a quicker and more streamlined route to degree-awarding powers and university status, subject to continuing strict assessment of quality, is a positive step forward in offering greater choice and improved quality of university experience.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com