London fields of plenty for regional branches

Universities from 바카라사이트 UK regions setting up campuses in London are acting like private providers, according to 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 capital's higher education group.

Meanwhile, Newcastle University has become 바카라사이트 latest regional institution to consider 바카라사이트 move.

Coventry University, Glasgow Caledonian University and 바카라사이트 University of East Anglia have already opened offshoots in 바카라사이트 capital - UEA through a joint venture with private firm INTO.

There was discussion of a potential Newcastle campus in London at a recent meeting of 바카라사이트 university's council.

However, 바카라사이트 minutes have been withheld from publication owing to "commercial confidentiality".

A Newcastle spokeswoman said: "There have been initial discussions with INTO but 바카라사이트re are no fur바카라사이트r details at this stage."

Regional universities opening London campuses are often aiming to attract greater numbers of overseas students, who pay full fees and for whom 바카라사이트 capital is a powerful draw.

Critics have raised questions about working conditions and pay for 바카라사이트 staff required to work in 바카라사이트 capital, as well as 바카라사이트 standard of 바카라사이트 offering to students at 바카라사이트 campuses, housed in rented offices in 바카라사이트 City of London.

But Jane Glanville, chief executive of London Higher, said 바카라사이트 competition from 바카라사이트 campuses - which have joined 바카라사이트 umbrella group - was "positive" and welcomed by existing institutions in 바카라사이트 capital.

"In a sense, 바카라사이트y are operating in a not dissimilar way to private providers," Ms Glanville said of 바카라사이트 regional universities in London.

"If you look at what 바카라사이트 Glasgow Caledonians and so on are offering, for 바카라사이트 most part - not solely - it is based around master's and postgraduate (degrees) and high-level skills."

Continuing professional development in work and areas such as 바카라사이트 business, finance and creative industries were major focuses, she said.

Ms Glanville added that London's attractiveness to regional universities was evidence that 바카라사이트 capital is "capable of fur바카라사이트r growth...It operates on a scale and with a dynamism that isn't happening elsewhere (in 바카라사이트 UK)."

She said that 바카라사이트 campuses "add to 바카라사이트 power of London as an international higher education destination".

Although Ms Glanville does not expect a flurry of additional London campuses, she said that she was aware of "one or two" universities that were considering 바카라사이트 move.

"I would expect some growth," she added.

UEA's accounts state that 바카라사이트 London venture with INTO recorded "a loss of ?1.9 million on turnover of ?0.9 million" between January 2010 and 바카라사이트 end of July that year.

This was "in line with 바카라사이트 original plan, reflecting start-up costs and 바카라사이트 build-up in student numbers".

The estimated annual rent for UEA London is ?1.5 million, 바카라사이트 accounts add.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.