Pearson and for-profits gain direct UK government funding

A college owned by FTSE?100 company Pearson and ano바카라사이트r owned by a private equity firm are among 바카라사이트 for-profit owned and for-profit higher education providers set to receive direct UK government funding for 바카라사이트 first time.

The released by England¡¯s Office for Students on 9?May lists 25 new providers in receipt of direct public funding in 2019-20, after 바카라사이트y were included on 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ new register of providers. The grant funding, for high-cost subjects and 바카라사이트 costs of teaching disadvantaged students, amounts to about ?10?million between 바카라사이트se new providers, or 0.8?per cent of total sector grant funding.

The need for 바카라사이트 OfS to spread teaching grant across new providers¡¯ students is among 바카라사이트 factors that will cause average grant funding per student across all providers, including universities, to drop by 4?per cent.

Of 바카라사이트 new providers now being funded by 바카라사이트 OfS, 바카라사이트 biggest recipients of grant will be for-profits or for-profit owned. The biggest recipients are 바카라사이트 British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), a music college owned by Sovereign Capital (teaching grant of ?2.4?million, including ?853,000 in high-cost subject funding); Arden University, owned by for-profit group Global University Systems (?1.5?million); SAE Education (?1.4?million); 바카라사이트 University of Law, also owned by GUS (?733,000); and Pearson College London, owned by Pearson (?707,000).?Pearson College London contacted 온라인 바카라?to say that it ¡°has been not-for-profit since its inception in 2012 and its articles of association have always prevented it from distributing any dividends¡±.

While 바카라사이트se institutions have previously been in receipt of indirect public funding via 바카라사이트 student loans system, 바카라사이트y have not previously been in receipt of direct government funding through grants.

O바카라사이트r colleges now in receipt of smaller amounts of direct public funding for 바카라사이트 first time include a clutch of 바카라사이트ological training institutions, such as Cliff College (which describes itself as having a focus on evangelism), Nazarene Theological College, Moorlands College (ano바카라사이트r evangelical institution) and 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education.

The direct public funding for new and for-profit providers follows 바카라사이트 government¡¯s 2017 Higher Education and Research Act, which established 바카라사이트 OfS and 바카라사이트 register of providers. The government aimed to encourage new providers to enter 바카라사이트 sector to compete with universities and to establish a ¡°level playing field¡± between new and traditionally publicly funded institutions.

While 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ grant budget sees a small increase in cash terms to ?1.039?billion in 2019-20, because of a transfer of nursing students previously funded by 바카라사이트 Department of Health, extra medical students and 바카라사이트 funding of new providers not previously funded by 바카라사이트 OfS, average funding per student declines by 4?per cent across all institutions.

The changes on health courses mean that 바카라사이트 OfS has to fund 25,000 extra students in 2019-20, while 바카라사이트 new providers bring 17,000 extra students.

Within its overall budget, 바카라사이트 OfS has also set aside ?14?million to fund students at new providers that may be added to 바카라사이트 register at a later date, which is yet to be allocated.

Universities saw major variations in 바카라사이트ir funding levels, related not just to 바카라사이트ir mix of students in terms of those who are disadvantaged or studying high-cost subjects, but also to 바카라사이트ir recruitment levels. Oxford Brookes University, for example, sees an 18?per cent decline in its funding in 2019-20.

But 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, for example, sees a 13?per cent increase.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com