For-profits HE dealt a blow in the UK

Well, a blow against for-profit HE was struck in the UK when David Cameron took a tactical decision to drop a bill in the next session to allow more competition in the UK HE space. Competition is good, but not by opening it up to dodgy for-profits. I’ve been writing on these concerns for some time, and I’m happy to see the present move by the UK government.The legislation would have allowed state loans to go into profits for for-profits, even allowing foreign companies (yes, companies, not institutions, for that is what they are), into the mix. So, UK taxpayer money goes to profits in a foreign country, while the national infrastructure is forced to compete or rot. Superb.

Willets is also mad as a hatter if he thinks that the problem with UK HE is a lack of degree awarding institutions. There is plenty of capacity, the problems are rather with the quality and the relevance of that capacity.

It looks like the proposed bill may not see the light of day. Downing Street says it won’t be published until 2015, but three years is an eternity and who knows what the economic and political design forces will bring by that point.

I am amused by Cameron’s motivation, as well. The Telegraph wrote “it is understood that the Prime Minister is unwilling to embark on radical reform of another public service while facing battles on the reorganisation of the NHS, schools and welfare.” You can bet that that is the case.