Some Colleges Close, Others get Stronger. Why?
Another private college goes bust - this time in England.
On the BBC and thought you should see it:
Private college goes bust and will stop teaching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-49181654
One interesting comment:
The UCU lecturers' union blamed the "marketisation of education" and warned of "funding a free for all among private providers".
Problems in education are however far more complex than that.
More broadly speaking; mainstream education is failing to adapt to rapid change on many fronts.
Technology - embracing technology faster & better, enables more people to be educated just as well, but differently and at less cost.
(But educators are invested in running a system that uses traditional delivery methods for most of the course delivery in bricks & mortar colleges - and that system is resistant to change at the rate needed).
Regulation - established colleges are too focused on compliance and assessment; and problems arising from this over emphasis are too often responded to with increased compliance measures. The focus needs to be more on learning; and having ethical, competent staff.
Globalisation & Marketplace Diversification - The 20th century education marketplace competitors were mostly other regional institutions with a long history in education. This has shifted. Competitors are increasingly from all regions of a country and all countries; and from industries outside of education (eg. Big Tech businesses are expanding into education; industry businesses that previously outsourced training to colleges are increasingly training in house).
Apart from these issues other factors are at play too.
1. Governments traditionally funded a minority of their population to study university and vocational courses; but are now expected to fund a higher % of the population in higher education. Demands upon government funds are increasing in other areas (security, defence, health, welfare). The public wants more services for more people, but does not want increase taxes. You cannot have more for less or even the same level of funding. Hence competition to get funding increases and the quality of funded services in education, decreases.
2. Too many institutions lack a balanced approach to the business of education because of the previously highlighted "marketisation" of education.
Profit may be important to sustainability; but sustainability is far more complex than just that. Profit must be tempered with achieving the primary goal of helping people learn. I learning outcomes are optimal, up to date, and fees charged are reasonable and affordable; an education provider achieves an enhanced reputation, return custom (clients) and long term sustainability and profitability is achieved.
We are responding (Just this year) -
We will continue adapting, surviving and improving.