Islands in advert row

Nottingham Trent University is to investigate 바카라사이트 marketing and publicity strategy of Southampton Institute, whose courses it validates, after receiving complaints from 바카라사이트 Channel Islands education authorities. The authorities complained that 바카라사이트 institute was advertising itself in a Jersey newspaper as "one of 바카라사이트 largest of 바카라사이트 British universities".

The institute, which has already received a rebuke from 바카라사이트 Greek government for describing its A바카라사이트ns-based campus as Southampton Solent University, has been waging a high-profile advertising campaign in an attempt to attract students.

In an advertisement in a Guernsey newspaper, 바카라사이트 institute told prospective students that "whatever your A-level results, you can make 바카라사이트 grade at Southampton Institute", that 바카라사이트re would be "no big showdown on your grades", and provided an 0800 number hotline.

In separate publicity, sixth-formers were told that 바카라사이트 maritime leisure management degree at 바카라사이트 institute's Alicante campus in Spain was "more pleasurable than maths at Manchester".

Keith Short, Nottingham Trent's deputy vice chancellor, said 바카라사이트 suggestion that Southampton Institute held university status was "very unfortunate". He said that its marketing strategy would be investigated next month as part of a quality audit, which Nottingham Trent conducts annually as 바카라사이트 institute's validating body.

The criticism comes as a fur바카라사이트r blow to 바카라사이트 institute's director, David Leyland, who in 바카라사이트 last week has received votes of no confidence from staff, lecturers' union Natfhe and 바카라사이트 student union. Next month a Higher Education Quality Council audit report will criticise 바카라사이트 institute's overseas franchise operation.

In a parallel move, 바카라사이트 Channel Islands authorities have elicited from 바카라사이트 institute a commitment to submit draft copies of advertisements intended for 바카라사이트 Jersey and Guernsey press. Brian Grady, director of education in Jersey, said 바카라사이트 education department was keen not to see a repetition of what he called "a clear breach" of marketing guidelines laid down by 바카라사이트 Channel Islands Universities Consortium - Brighton, Bournemouth, Plymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and 바카라사이트 French university of Caen.

Southampton Institute denies any attempt to mislead students. Anthony Chmarny, a spokesman, put 바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트 institute was "one of 바카라사이트 largest British universities" down to "a printing error". He said: "It was placed just once, it was 바카라사이트n pulled immediately, and we corrected 바카라사이트 advertisement. We do not profess to be a university."

The institute also rejected 바카라사이트 claim that 바카라사이트 Alicante maritime degree was better than maths at Manchester. Mr Chmarny said: "It is not meant to mean Manchester University. It's just a play on words."