BPP, which already has degree-awarding powers, has been given the go-ahead to create the first private university in 30 years with the Minister for HE, David Willetts, announcing the venture on Monday. The BBC reports that the new HEI, to be called 'BPP University College of Professional Studies' will initially offer law and business degrees and will then expand into healthcare and teaching degrees over the next year. It quotes David Willetts as saying "It is healthy to have a vibrant private sector working alongside our more traditional universities. I am delighted that, less than four months after coming into office, we are creating the first new private university college in more than 30 years".
UCU leader Sally Hunt said that "today's news could mark the beginning of a slippery slope for academic provision in this country. Encouraging the growth of private providers and making it easier for them to call themselves universities would be a disaster for the UK's academic reputation. It would also represent a huge threat to academic freedom and standards". The university think-tank Million+ also thinks it's a bad idea.