Private sector

The for-profit education sector is likely to boom over the next few years, an investment bank has predicted

Andrew McGettigan visits one institution, using it as a case study to explore concerns about the coalition’s policies

Watchdog responds after business secretary’s ‘dross’ remark

A private college has been cleared by the UK’s quality watchdog after it investigated claims over student recruitment and attendance

Private colleges would need to subscribe to the higher education ombudsman service under plans proposed by the Labour Party.

A private college that was the subject of a newspaper investigation has been given continued permission by the government to access public funds.

Thousands of students may be stranded as colleges lose student loan access

London Oriental Academy banned from accessing SLC funds

Private provider passes QAA’s new review, making domestic intake eligible for public funding

The number of students at private colleges accessing public tuition fee loans more than trebled in just two years, a study says.

In exercising its autonomy, the UK’s first fully private university has blazed a trail that the rest have followed, asserts Terence Kealey

Sir David Watson says ministers should have learned lessons of the past

A merger could enable the US school to use Ashridge’s degree-awarding powers

Terence Kealey has retired from his position as vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, the privately funded institution has announced.

LSBF says many of its students do have the right to work

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills signals that it may remove sub-degree qualifications from the higher education budget

James MacAskill, principal of the private college, says suspension is down to a ‘misunderstanding’ by the Home Office

SLC discusses whether students are genuine and attending classes despite confusion over who should investigate

Government admits £8 million paid out to students who had not proved residency

For-profit firms eye tie-ups with regional institutions ‘desperate’ to boost international intake

But also emerges that watchdog passed LSST for educational oversight last September

The UK’s public spending watchdog has been asked to investigate possible misuse of public money in the student loans system by for-profit colleges.

Private providers should be monitored more closely to ensure they are delivering similar quality to universities, a mission group has argued.

University of Law also has a new Guernsey-based parent firm

David Kemp and Andrew Norton call for state cash for all institutions and pre-bachelor’s courses

UUK head dismisses warning over technological change

Student loan income at institution owned by BV holding company rises

Former RDI shareholders set to gain extra £4 million from US parent as a result

International students complain of ‘inadequate’ teaching while hearing their visa sponsorship could again be in jeopardy

The stealthy rise of private pre-degree courses

Regent’s University London has become only the second private institution to be admitted to Universities UK.

Private college loses all its previous degree-validating partners

Overseas recruits on LSBF-taught course seek damages over treatment by university sponsor

An ex vice-president at US higher education company Laureate will take charge of the University of Law, following its sale to a private equity firm

University mulls joint venture with INTO to boost business school

SLC data show two private institutions received more than the globally renowned London School of Economics and Soas

A private college “supplied misleading information” that led to students wrongly gaining access to public-backed loans, according to the government

New College of the Humanities plots course for growth and more investment

Institution investigates commercial options to generate surplus

Condé Nast courses are cut to fit students’ needs, says vice-principal

Cambridge Education Group, which prepares international students for university, has been sold to a private equity firm in a deal worth £185 million.

The government has suspended 23 private colleges from the publicly-funded loans system after a surge in their student numbers.

David Willetts has confirmed that public spending on students at private providers trebled this year.

High tuition, bad press and recovering economy cited in falling student numbers

Religious body seeks secular redress for ‘trademark infringement’

Private sector hopes to grow on back of oil-backed education funding boost

Minutes reveal huge write-off and continuing dispute with LSBF

Richmond, the American International University in London has become one of the rare private providers to pass a full review by the quality watchdog.

Recreating a two-tier system is only benefiting ‘the best’, says Malcolm Gillies

BIS applies cap in 2014, but with terms allowing ‘back door’ expansion

The first UK undergraduate medical degree to be offered by a private university has been launched, and will begin teaching from January 2015

A London-based private provider is to offer pathway programmes with a consortium of Northern universities, enabling international students to get on to degree courses

Student numbers at private higher education institutions will be capped from 2014-15, the government has confirmed, while private providers will also be granted unlimited recruitment of high-grade students.

Home Office ‘looking into’ partnership between Glyndwr University and London School of Business and Finance

Pearson College, the institution owned by the education giant Pearson, is to offer business degrees validated by Ashridge Business School.

The private, not-for-profit ifs School of Finance has been granted university college status by the government.

Many private colleges are failing to take action to catch cheating by students, according to a Quality Assurance Agency review.

The University of Law has had its elevation to university status rubber-stamped by the government.

BPP decision reached despite concerns over US parent firm

Findings likely to be of interest to BIS as student loan costs grow