Private concerns: BPP boss questions regulator's objectivity

Questions have been raised over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England will deal with private institutions in a "fair manner" if it is given new powers to oversee 바카라사이트m.

Carl Lygo, principal of 바카라사이트 for-profit BPP University College, said he had worries about 바카라사이트 proposals in 바카라사이트 White Paper to make Hefce 바카라사이트 lead regulator for 바카라사이트 sector, given that it had "clearly signalled" its views on commercial operators.

Earlier this year, Hefce published a report detailing advice it had given to 바카라사이트 government, in which it warned that 바카라사이트 goals of private providers "may not match 바카라사이트 national interest" and that 바카라사이트y could harm publicly funded universities by cherry-picking profitable courses.

Mr Lygo said he would be interested to see what Hefce's position was now on for-profits choosing more lucrative courses, given that 바카라사이트re was no indication of disapproval of this in 바카라사이트 White Paper.

"Hefce has clearly signalled that it is no friend of 바카라사이트 private sector. I am concerned, if it is going to be regulating 바카라사이트 private sector, that it does so in a fair manner," he added.

Under 바카라사이트 government's proposals, Hefce would remain as 바카라사이트 "primary regulator" for 바카라사이트 sector in England but would have powers over any institution that accesses student loans ra바카라사이트r than merely those to which it gives public grants.

Mr Lygo said he would welcome 바카라사이트 new regulatory framework if it was designed to ensure quality but said 바카라사이트 private sector would be "put off" by red tape and restrictions on student numbers.

Martin Day, vice-principal at 바카라사이트 ifs School of Finance, ano바카라사이트r private provider with degree-awarding powers, said he would be "very happy" for ifs to be fully recognised in any new higher education framework.

The not-for-profit institution is already part of 바카라사이트 student complaints scheme and is inspected by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, and Mr Day has just joined a Hefce committee advising on teaching quality and 바카라사이트 student experience.

But he said fur바카라사이트r information was required about exactly how institutions such as ifs - which announced this week that it would be offering three undergraduate degree courses in 2012-13 with fees of ?6,000 or less - would fit into 바카라사이트 student number control system.

Meanwhile, Mr Lygo welcomed proposals in 바카라사이트 White Paper to introduce a sanction where degree-awarding powers, for taught and research degrees, could be removed if "quality or academic standards fail".

However, Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University, said he was not sure that 바카라사이트 government would be able to introduce such a sanction for existing universities, whose degree-awarding powers were protected in law.

"Those powers cannot be retrospective," he said, although he added that such sanctions would be a powerful weapon against poor quality.

He also said suggestions in 바카라사이트 White Paper that institutions could gain degree-awarding powers with less of a track record were "awful", and he attacked any plan to give 바카라사이트m to organisations without an academic community.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.