Review team looks to US for community model

American community colleges could become a model for the future development of further education institutions in the UK, according to the head of a Government-commissioned review of the sector.

Sir Andrew Foster said that he was interested in taking a closer look at the American system, where community colleges are considered the first layer of higher education, offer-ing two-year associate degrees as a route to honours degree courses.

He told The Times Higher that evidence he had received suggested that American colleges were held in much higher esteem than their UK counterparts.

"They also have strong links with universities, which is another aspect I want to explore," he said.

Sir Andrew outlined his early thoughts on his review at a Learning and Skills Development Agency conference in London on Tuesday.

Submissions to the review, which concludes in autumn, indicated strong interest in looking for ways to give further education colleges a similar level of autonomy to that enjoyed by universities.

"I think that is something that merits examination," he said.

The review team will explore alternative regulatory frameworks and funding systems in further education.