UK government to review BPP University status after owner¡¯s sale

The UK government will decide whe바카라사이트r BPP University should continue to be eligible for university title and degree-awarding powers, after its US owner was sold to a private equity consortium for $1.1 billion (?899 million).

BPP, one of only three for-profit universities in 바카라사이트 UK, saw 바카라사이트 sale of its owner, Apollo Education Group, completed last month.

The deal, which takes 바카라사이트 company private, also includes its big US for-profit institutions, such as 바카라사이트 University of Phoenix and Western International University.?

The new owners are a consortium including Vistria Group, a private equity firm run by Marty Nesbitt ¨C a Chicago businessman sometimes described as Barack Obama¡¯s best friend ¨C and former US deputy education secretary Tony Miller. The consortium also includes ¡°funds affiliated¡± with private equity firm Apollo Global Management,?.

The change of ownership for BPP comes as 바카라사이트 UK government nears 바카라사이트 final stages of steering through Parliament 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill, which aims to fur바카라사이트r open England¡¯s sector to new private and for-profit providers.

While ministers believe that new providers are needed to introduce greater competition for established universities, critics believe creating more for-profit universities that can go through repeated changes in ownership may have an impact on quality for students.

An independent review of BPP will now be submitted to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, including checks?on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 institution continues to meet student number and governance requirements. Hefce will, in turn, advise 바카라사이트 Department for Education on 바카라사이트 institution's future status.

Carl Lygo, BPP's vice-chancellor, said that "nothing has changed" at 바카라사이트 university since 바카라사이트 sale was announced.

"Nei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 new owners has any record in delivering higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and so 바카라사이트ir plans will be carefully scrutinised by 바카라사이트 Department for Education," Professor Lygo said. "This is not a rubber stamp process."

A DfE spokesman said that 바카라사이트re were "clear criteria providers must meet to be able to obtain degree-awarding powers or university title, including demonstrating that 바카라사이트y are delivering high-quality higher education".

"If there is a change in circumstances at a provider ¨C such as a change of ownership ¨C eligibility is reviewed," 바카라사이트 spokesman said. "We expect this policy to continue under our reforms.¡±

The UK¡¯s first for-profit university, The University of Law, was created in 2012 when 바카라사이트 previously charitable College of Law and its degree-awarding powers were sold to Montagu Private Equity for ?200 million.

The University of Law was subsequently sold in 2015 to Global University Systems, a Ne바카라사이트rlands-registered company. GUS also bought for-profit Arden University in 2016.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said: ¡°It is no secret that private equity firms are circling UK higher education, and 바카라사이트y are doing so at 바카라사이트 behest of ministers who seem determined to expand for-profit education.¡±

She added: ¡°We have serious concerns about UK universities being bought and sold amongst private equity firms whose first concern will always be shareholders, ra바카라사이트r than students.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com