Citation
(2003), "Specialist HE institutions may become universities", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445hab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Specialist HE institutions may become universities
Specialist HE institutions may become universities
The government is to enable specialist higher-education institutions in England to become universities from September 2004. Currently, institutions need to teach in a wide range of subjects to be eligible for the university title. In future, and subject to consultation, there will no longer be any barriers to high-quality institutions that specialize in one or two subjects becoming a university.
Other changes to the criteria will:
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allow institutions without research-degree awarding powers to apply for university title;
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make clear that doctorates will be awarded only by institutions that conduct research; and
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grant new degree-awarding powers for a limited time, subject to satisfactory quality reviews.
The Quality Assurance Agency has been asked to streamline its procedures to speed up the application processes. Margaret Hodge, minister of state for lifelong learning, further and higher education, said: “The most important requirement for the university title should be the quality of an institution’s teaching and the number of students enrolled. Having a specialist focus should no longer be a bar to becoming a university. That is why we are drawing up new criteria that will open up the door to successful institutions that have been shut out for too long. Quality and standards will remain the overriding factor for granting degree-awarding powers. There will be a time limit for institutions that gain new degree-awarding powers and they will have to prove that they are maintaining standards through a regular Quality Assurance Agency audit”.