Harper Adams closer to full university status
Shropshire's Harper Adams University College is one-step closer to gaining full university status, it was revealed this afternoon.
The college in Edgmond, near Newport, is one of 10 UK institutions recommended to be upgraded to a university, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has said.
It will lead to the single biggest creation of universities since 1992 and follows the Government's announcement in June that red tape barring some smaller institutions from being awarded the title of university would be removed.
Previously, institutions needed a minimum of 4,000 students to become a university. This has now been reduced to 1,000.
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: "These well-known and highly-regarded university colleges represent over 1,200 years of history between them. It is right to remove the barriers preventing high-quality higher education providers like these calling themselves universities simply because of their size.
"I am delighted that they have taken up the opportunity offered by our reforms. This will lead to the biggest creation of universities since 1992 and will enable more people to realise their aspiration of going to a university."
Andy Westwood, Chief Executive of GuildHE, the organisation that represents the 10 institutions, said: "The minister's recommendation that ten institutions have met the criteria to become universities recognises the quality, diversity and tradition that they bring to UK higher education.
"Smaller and specialist institutions are long established – in most cases for longer than many UK universities – and often lead the league tables in areas such as teaching and employability. They also have a strong reputation and impact in their localities and sectors – contributing to economic growth and to stronger, more vibrant communities.
"Gaining university title is long overdue and it helps to provide greater choice for students and for businesses, while enhancing the quality and diversity of the UK's higher education sector as a whole."
