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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Smaller institutions eligible to become universities | Smaller institutions eligible to become universities |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News | By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News |
| Up to 10 smaller higher education institutions in England are now eligible to become universities under government changes announced on Monday. | Up to 10 smaller higher education institutions in England are now eligible to become universities under government changes announced on Monday. |
| The number of students required for a university has been reduced from 4,000 to 1,000. | The number of students required for a university has been reduced from 4,000 to 1,000. |
| But the government has been criticised for not introducing primary legislation in its reforms of the higher education sector. | |
| Labour called the plans "nothing more than small technical details". | Labour called the plans "nothing more than small technical details". |
| The announcements came in a ministerial response to the Higher Education White Paper from David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science. | The announcements came in a ministerial response to the Higher Education White Paper from David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science. |
| 'Red tape | 'Red tape |
| Mr Willetts described the change to the status of small higher education institutions as "broadening the range of institutions that can be called universities and tackling a long standing grievance". | |
| "It is right to remove the red tape stopping good quality smaller higher education providers calling themselves a university." | "It is right to remove the red tape stopping good quality smaller higher education providers calling themselves a university." |
| The change affects 10 institutions which already have degree awarding powers in specialist areas such as the arts, agriculture or teacher training. | The change affects 10 institutions which already have degree awarding powers in specialist areas such as the arts, agriculture or teacher training. |
| These range from The Royal Agricultural College, Norwich University College of the Arts and Newman University College in Birmingham. | These range from The Royal Agricultural College, Norwich University College of the Arts and Newman University College in Birmingham. |
| Mr Willetts said that if the colleges decided to go ahead with the change to university status it could be in place by the autumn. | Mr Willetts said that if the colleges decided to go ahead with the change to university status it could be in place by the autumn. |
| The principal of Newman University College, Professor Peter Lutzeier, said: "The change corrects an anomaly in the system and will help reduce confusion surrounding the nature of university colleges." | The principal of Newman University College, Professor Peter Lutzeier, said: "The change corrects an anomaly in the system and will help reduce confusion surrounding the nature of university colleges." |
| Andy Westwood of Guild HE, which represents the smaller specialist institutions also welcomed the announcement: "Smaller institutions have long offered greater agility, smaller classes, stronger graduate employment and better retention rates." | Andy Westwood of Guild HE, which represents the smaller specialist institutions also welcomed the announcement: "Smaller institutions have long offered greater agility, smaller classes, stronger graduate employment and better retention rates." |
| In the statement Mr Willetts also announced the government's intention to pursue its reform agenda through non-legislative means. | In the statement Mr Willetts also announced the government's intention to pursue its reform agenda through non-legislative means. |
| Other measures included a consultation on plans to include colleges without funding council support in the student number control system and a review of quality assurance when universities validate degrees offered by colleges. | Other measures included a consultation on plans to include colleges without funding council support in the student number control system and a review of quality assurance when universities validate degrees offered by colleges. |
| Labour's Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Shabana Mahmood said the plans "will do nothing to reduce the chaos and uncertainty that universities and students are facing". | Labour's Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Shabana Mahmood said the plans "will do nothing to reduce the chaos and uncertainty that universities and students are facing". |
| Ms Mahmood added that the absence of a Higher Education Bill meant "that the government are unable to make many of the changes that they have been talking about, causing yet more confusion". | Ms Mahmood added that the absence of a Higher Education Bill meant "that the government are unable to make many of the changes that they have been talking about, causing yet more confusion". |
| Liam Burns, president of the National Union of Students said: "Tuition fees triple from September yet the government has decided to avoid protections for students when things go wrong, dodge real regulation of for-profit universities, and all but give up on improving teaching quality. | Liam Burns, president of the National Union of Students said: "Tuition fees triple from September yet the government has decided to avoid protections for students when things go wrong, dodge real regulation of for-profit universities, and all but give up on improving teaching quality. |
| "It also continues to refuse to guarantee the terms of student loans into the future, reserving for itself the right to make terms worse without parliamentary scrutiny. | "It also continues to refuse to guarantee the terms of student loans into the future, reserving for itself the right to make terms worse without parliamentary scrutiny. |
| "This lamentable response from a government terrified by public or parliamentary scrutiny of its higher education reforms is an insult to students and their families." | "This lamentable response from a government terrified by public or parliamentary scrutiny of its higher education reforms is an insult to students and their families." |