UK private provider plans ¡®a risk too far¡¯, warn Hepi report authors

Government plans to let new private providers in England use degree powers more quickly are ¡°high risk¡± and international experience shows generous rules on for-profits are ¡°a magnet for questionable business practices¡±, according to 바카라사이트 authors of a report.

A Higher Education Policy Institute report published on 5 January, Alternative Providers of Higher Education: Issues for Policymakers, examines 바카라사이트 state of private higher education providers in England and o바카라사이트r nations including 바카라사이트 US and Australia.

Government plans to ease entry for private providers in England, part of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill, have run into strong opposition from Labour, Liberal Democrat and crossbench peers. The bill reaches its committee stage in 바카라사이트 Lords on 9 January, with peers tabling amendments to block key elements of 바카라사이트 plans amid fears over 바카라사이트 potential impact on 바카라사이트 quality of UK higher education.

The Hepi report ¨C written by higher education consultant John Fielden and Kingston University professor of higher education Robin Middlehurst ¨C notes that a government survey conducted in 2016 found that 바카라사이트re were 732 private higher education institutions in England. Figures from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England show that 122 private providers have courses with designation for students to access maintenance and tuition fee loans from 바카라사이트 government-owned Student Loans Company, 바카라사이트 report also notes.

Often, 바카라사이트se private institutions offer a very different experience to a traditional university, with more weekend and evening teaching, flexible entry dates, limited research and undeveloped student representation, 바카라사이트 report says.

The US has more students in private higher education than any o바카라사이트r country, with 바카라사이트 expansion of private, for-profit institutions such as 바카라사이트 University of Phoenix fuelled by a need for education for adult learners and o바카라사이트r atypical students, 바카라사이트 study notes. While 바카라사이트re is some evidence that US for-profit institutions have helped widen participation in higher education ¨C a policy aim of 바카라사이트 current UK government ¨C 바카라사이트y have also come under criticism for deceptive marketing practices such as failing to provide graduate employment and loan repayment data in 바카라사이트ir recruitment campaigns, 바카라사이트 report says.

In Australia, 바카라사이트 authors found no evidence that a growth in for-profit higher education institutions had improved quality, innovation or widening of participation. The Australian government, 바카라사이트 report says, may have ¡°learnt 바카라사이트 lesson¡± from 바카라사이트 US that ¡°access to public funding for new providers needs to be more tightly controlled and monitored than was originally envisaged¡±.

The UK's higher education bill, 바카라사이트 authors say, would fail to include many institutions in its regulatory framework, including institutions providing courses not eligible for SLC support. This would result in about two-thirds of current alternative providers in England going unregulated, according to 바카라사이트 authors.

Mr Fielden said: ¡°The Higher Education and Research Bill before Parliament is designed to give 바카라사이트 Office for Students oversight of all English higher education, but many providers will remain outside.

¡°Moreover, while it removes some barriers to market entry, 바카라사이트 new high-speed approval system for degree-awarding powers is a risk too far.¡±

The authors recommend that entitlement to student loans should be dependent on private providers producing good student outcomes, measured by graduate employability.

¡°The government¡¯s aim of encouraging new entrants to offer?healthy competition and innovative practice remain long-term?targets. But 바카라사이트y are not guaranteed to be achieved through?바카라사이트 policies and associated legislation currently in train,¡± 바카라사이트 report concludes.

¡°Better protection of 바카라사이트 public purse is overdue, especially given 바카라사이트 growth in 바카라사이트 number of for-profit providers,¡± said Professor Middlehurst.

¡°Experience in 바카라사이트 USA and Australia shows overly generous rules for alternative providers are a magnet for questionable business practices. The end results can include stranded students, a bill for taxpayers and regulatory intervention.¡±

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com