A more open university

TUITION fees for new students at University Campus Oldham (UCO) will be cut by nearly £2,000 in September.

Oldham College is reducing charges from £7,950 to £6,000 when it takes charge of the campus, currently part of Huddersfield University.

Principal Alun Francis said taking over UCO was part of the Government’s policy to widen the work of further education colleges.

Ministers also want to open up higher education to more people, make degrees more affordable by increasing competition and offer different ways of progressing to university.

Mr Francis said Oldham College would not have the costs associated with universities, such as funding research departments or layers of management.

He added: “Look at the point of view of a learner who is now thinking at 16, ‘am I going to go to university and come out with with debts of £30,000?’.

“‘Do I want to do an apprenticeship but have the chance to be flexible? I might do an apprenticeship, a higher apprenticeship and a degree.’

“If you want a route through to higher education in Oldham you do not need to spend a fortune. Progressing through the college is a much cheaper way.”

UCO opened in 2005 in the former Oldham Business Management School. It has 915 students and offers a range of full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and professional qualifications.

Mr Francis said cuts to university funding would have made it increasingly difficult for UCO to remain viable for Huddersfield University.

“Huddersfield could have walked away form this. They could have said it is too hard for them and UCO would have had to close,” he explained.

“They did not do that. They came to talk to us and we came up with a solution we thought was in the best interests of the town.

“Huddersfield has given us an extraordinary level of support. They have given us a four-year deal to validate our courses. No other college has that. Colleges have to go round and try and get deals to validate their courses.

“They are not going to put us in a position where we are delivering substandard courses. As a college we want to be known for delivering quality provision.”

Oldham College already runs Waterhead Academy, which replaced Breeze Hill and Counthill Schools in 2010.

Asked if it was spreading itself too thin, Mr Francis said: “No. The college is spreading itself too narrow. All colleges are being asked to be more adventurous in what they do and have a bigger impact.

“This isn’t just an isolated thing that’s happening out of context. It is government policy that colleges offer more higher education.

“Further-education colleges are unique organisations. On the one hand we have learners who come for a second chance, if you have not done well at school. On the other we are about outstanding excellence. We had 400 learners go to university last year.”

UCO will stay as a dedicated higher-education site and the details of transferring staff are currently being worked out, with some working across both Oldham and Huddersfield campuses.

“The way we have been dealing with Huddersfield hasn’t being identifying people who won’t have a job,” said Mr Francis.

“It is identifying who will stay with Huddersfield and who will come with us.”