I get the impression that this new list is going to include non-degree-granting educational institutions that provide 'training'. The most significant change seems to be that in order to help combat immigration abuse, Britain will only authorize student visas for foreigners who intend to study at one of the listed schools. The DFES has posted lists of legitimate British degree-granting providers for some time. Here's the official list of all bodies in the UK that are recognized to grant British degrees: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/annex4.shtml And here's the much more interesting (at least to me) list of all the more obscure institutions deputized ("validated") to offer at least one program leading to a degree that's formally awarded by one of the recognized institutions listed above: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/annex5.shtml I'm interested in this list because it includes many small educational bodies that are following their own unique vision and which might occasionally even seem kind of peculiar. It certainly shows that California-style academic imagination and entrepeneurship is alive in Britain, albeit hidden from clear view behind the monolithic facade of what are in effect state universities. If the oversight that these things receive, both from their validating university and from the QAA, is truly credible, then this might be a significantly better way of addressing this kind of school than the 'CA-approval' model, which creates endless confusion and controversy.
You read it here first New degree mill warning sign: trumpeting that they're listed on this Register. -=Steve=-
Register I tried a few searches. First, Sheffield Hallam University; it was included and its address came up. I also tried the University of Leicester (and Leicester University,) there was no listing. I also tried Oxford University with no success. Perhaps this list is limited by whether institutions bother to register. Roy Maybery
Hi Roy I tried Heriot-Watt University and nothing came up. Enquiring of our IT people, they told me that the site's browser was wonky because trying a different approach, HWU came up. It seems a less than wonderful web design though the idea is a good one. Could lead to confusion though ... Oxford not showing?
All the older universities seem to be listed under U. Very clever, whoever didn't think of cross-listing them by their short name. Also, the category feature seems about as useful as a chocolate teapot and the search function stinks. If I'd ever let something that bad loose into the wild in my eight years of doing web-database integration I wouldn't have spent eight years in the field! One can only hope that it will improve in version 2 (although the history of Uk government IT projects doesn't really give one any confidence in that) and that somebody will realise that to be useful, it really must state which qualifications at which level and from which examining board/validating university an organisation on the list is registered to provide. Angela
I'm still not clear what this register is or what a listing on it is supposed to be telling me. The Dfes says: What is the Register of Education and Training Providers in the UK (the Register)? The Department for Education and Skills has developed a register of publicly funded and private learning providers in the UK. The Register is a list of genuine education and training providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. OK, what do the words "in the UK" mean? Do the words only apply to schools offering British academic awards, or do they potentially include all the scores of entities that operate totally unregulated in the UK on the basis of an off-shore business license? In other words, is this register just duplicating the exisiting Dfes lists (and perhaps extending them to non-degree training providers), or is the register intended to catch things like Warnborough U., Preston U. and Boston University of London in its net? The Dfes continues: Any genuine provider is welcome to register. Genuine providers are defined as those assessed and validated by Department for Education and Skills (DfES) as part of the registration process. The registration process is one of continual assessment and those failing to maintain such standards will be subject to review. Failure of continuing compliance with the criteria may lead to removal from the Register. Sounds good, but... IMPORTANT: The Register does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of any registered providers. Registration does not imply quality standards and should not be used in marketing. We reserve the right to remove organisations from the Register for such use. So, what's up with that? The Dfes tosses aound words like "genuine", "assessed", "validated", "standards" and "criteria". Then they turn right around and say that what they are doing shouldn't be confused with quality assurance or quality standards or accreditation. That doesn't seem to make very much sense.
