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BAC Newsletter

July 2015
A message from Paul Fear,
 BAC Chief Executive
 
Welcome to our July Newsletter!  For some this is the quiet time of year, a time to draw breath before the start of the new academic year in September.  For others, this is the busiest time of year.  Whichever applies to you I hope you get a chance to relax at some point over the summer.

I am very pleased to report that BAC has now been listed on the EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) register.  To be listed an organisation has to be a full ENQA member and meet the EQAR listing requirements.  It is further confirmation of BAC’s continuing development and reinforces our reputation as a leading accreditation agency at a national and international level.

We are busy finalising arrangements for our November Conference.  The conference will focus on sector developments including; Tier 4 Student Visa changes (see the article below) , Digital Marketing for Education and transnational education development, amongst other topics.  The program is being finalised and will be ready by the end of July.  We are structuring the event to capture as many of the changes which are coming through the system as possible.  BAC accredited institutions will benefit from a very large discount but we do expect demand to be high so do keep an eye out for your invitation.  If you would like to register your interest before the invitations are sent out please contact Carole (carole.regnier@the-bac.org)

We are putting together a new range of courses and seminars for the forthcoming academic year. Topics will cover Tier 4 changes and compliance, tackling extremism and radicalisation, institutional improvement as well as a host of other topics.  If you would like to see a particular topic addressed then you can email me at paul.fear@the-bac.org. 

A detailed list of courses and seminars will be available as from August.

There are a significant number of policy changes working their way through the system which we will be keeping a close eye on.  These include the HEFCE review of higher education oversight, cuts to FE funding, the changes to the OFSTED inspection regime and finally, the ongoing changes to Student Visa arrangments.
 

GOVERNMENT AND POLICY NEWS
"Tighter rules for the UK’s FE sector have been confirmed because of concerns about fraud, with all part-time work rights for non-EU students studying at publicly funded colleges to be scrapped, while college-enrolled students will also have no possibility of applying for a work visa while in the UK, the Home Office has confirmed.
Students will be unable to extend their studies unless their college has a formal link to a university and visas for FE-level study will also become valid for a maximum of two years rather than three". (Source: The Pie News, 14 July 2015) 
"Local authorities, prisons, NHS trusts, schools, universities and further education institutions will be placed under a new statutory duty to prevent extremist radicalisation taking place within their walls". (Source: the Guardian, 29 June 2015). Please read more on the Guardian website. 
"Further Education Commissioner Dr David Collins has issued a 38-page guide to college mergers". (Source: FE week, 16 June 2015). Please read more on the FE week website. 
"The government is reviewing the General FE College model as it looks to cut costs while investing more to create three million Apprenticeships, according to Skills Minister Nick Boles." (Source: FE News, 24 June 2015). Please read more on the FE News website.

"There are plans for discussion to set out major changes in how standards are assessed and monitored in universities. (Source: BBC, 24 June 2015). Please read more on the BBC website.

"The UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will target fake university websites in its latest efforts to clamp down on higher education fraud." (Source: The Pie News, 10 June 2015). For more info please go to the Pie News website. 

"The newly elected UK government aims to increase education exports from £18bn to £30bn by 2020." (Source: The Pie News, 2 June 2015). To read more please go to the Pie News website.
UK INDUSTRY NEWS
"More than a third of employers value vocational and academic qualifications equally, according to a new report to be published next month" (Source: TES, 28 June 2015). For more info please go to the TES website.
"Colleges and training providers are being urged to join forces with local authorities and businesses to help tackle skills shortages and boost employment in their regions."  (Source: TES, 29 June 3015). for more info please go to the TES website. 
"The FE sector has its first ever chartered body after the Institution for Further Education (IFE) was awarded a Royal Charter by the Queen." (Source: TES, 11 June 2015). Fore more info please go to the TES website. 
"The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) analysts have recently suggested that UK nations have the biggest skills gaps between young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and those in work." (Source: FE News, 8 June 2015). Please read more on the FE website. 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
"The Chinese Ministry of Education is calling for more foreign universities to accept the Chinese gaokao exam". (Source: The Pie News, 15 June 2015). Please read more on the Pie News website. 
"A balance is needed between higher education and vocational training in Africa if it is to face the task of upskilling its enormous youth population". (Source: The Pie News, 12 June 2015). Please read more on the Pie News website.
"Grok Education Services, an education and market entry consultancy company, has opened up a subsidiary in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, citing significant interest from its institutional clients in having onshore support in the region". (Source: The Pie News, 12 June 2015). Fore more info please go to the Pie News website. 
QAA published a report on supporting and enhancing the experience of international students in the UK. Please read more on the QAA website.

*NEWLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS*
Wallace College offers tuition on a one-to-one or small group basis in a range of subjects examined by SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority), Pearson Edexcel, AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance), OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA), WJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee) and CIE (Cambridge International Examinations). 
The Academy currently offers a range of programmes, predominantly part-time and short courses, delivered in different learning modes and at different times across the year. 
 
The CLSS programme is being designed around the four themes of World Affairs, Economics and Business in a Global World, World Art and Literature, and Questions of Science.
NATS delivers training to air navigation service providers (ANSPs) around the world and to UK operations. NATS Training provides a wide range of air traffic control training courses, ranging from basic to specialist and including engineering and technical courses.
Opportunity Education Services
Opportunity Education Services (OES) provides short courses in enterprise, English and sports in the south of England. Three key programmes have been developed, one aimed at UK university students and two programmes focused on Chinese school children.
Stadium TM produces motivated and highly qualified teams for clients to support their events.
StadiumTM have a vast experience of a wide range of different events including football, rugby, festivals, local and major events including the London 2012 Olympics and Commonwealth Games 2014.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Conference 
UK universities as a destination of choice for international students – recruitment, regulation, student experience and global competition.
Wednesday 14 October 2015
 
This event is organised by the Westminster Higher Education Forum.
Guest of Honour: Brian Johnson, Head of International Higher Education, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Please go to the Westminster Higher Education forum website  to find a detailed description of the event and to book.
BAC’s first Annual Conference will take place on:
Monday 9th November 2015 at Central Hall, Westminster.
To register your interest in this event, please contact us at
bac.events@the-bac.org
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