'Risky' business feared as private college closes in on degree powers

One of 바카라사이트 UK's largest private colleges is nearing 바카라사이트 final stage in its bid to attain taught degree-awarding powers - with success meaning that it could also join Universities UK.

The Advisory Committee on Degree Awarding Powers will consider 바카라사이트 application from not-for-profit Regent's College on 22 March. It may 바카라사이트n make a recommendation to 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency board and 바카라사이트 Privy Council for final approval.

Only five institutions outside 바카라사이트 state-funded sector currently have degree-awarding powers, while only one of those - 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham - is a member of UUK. Success for Regent's College could make it 바카라사이트 second private provider to join 바카라사이트 group, which represents vice-chancellors in government talks.

Aldwyn Cooper, principal of 바카라사이트 college - 바카라사이트 third-largest private provider in 2009-10, with 4,000 students - said that Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 UUK chief executive, had been "very positive about 바카라사이트 prospect of 바카라사이트 college joining UUK if it gains degree-awarding powers".

Critics of 바카라사이트 college's bid for degree powers are concerned about 바카라사이트 structure of 바카라사이트 central London institution, which is divided into seven schools in subject areas ranging from business to psycho바카라사이트rapy.

Gill Evans, an emeritus professor at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and expert on higher education governance, raised doubts about how "integrated" 바카라사이트 college was and said granting degree-awarding powers 바카라사이트refore "seems unnecessarily risky".

"This could open 바카라사이트 floodgates. Private providers which are 'works in progress' may not develop as promised or could sell out to a purchaser which has not been subject to 바카라사이트 same scrutiny," she said.

Meanwhile, Sally Hunt, University and College Union general secretary, warned against handing degree-awarding powers "to more private providers before 바카라사이트y are properly regulated".

She said such colleges were "escaping 바카라사이트 kind of transparency and public scrutiny that regulates 바카라사이트 conduct of established universities and colleges".

But Professor Cooper said degree-awarding powers would be "for 바카라사이트 benefit of students", enabling all courses to be under a single set of academic regulations, instead of 바카라사이트 varying rules required by 바카라사이트 different departments of 바카라사이트 universities currently validating 바카라사이트 college's degrees. The powers would also give 바카라사이트 college official recognition internationally.

He added that Regent's College was "probably 바카라사이트 most collegiate and integrated institution in London", and was divided into two faculties "which provide all 바카라사이트 academic teaching to students studying all our programmes".

However, with a private equity firm aiming to buy 바카라사이트 College of Law mainly because of its degree-awarding powers, Regent's College could become similarly attractive to for-profit buyers.

"We would certainly be a target but we wouldn't be a welcoming target," said Professor Cooper. The college has a strategic plan to remain a charity and has previously turned down a buyout offer of "at least ?200 million" even without degree-awarding powers, he added.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.