Danger to Foundation Degree ‘fragile brand’

The Chancellor of the University of Teesside this evening (13 December, 2006) told a House of Lords debate that proposals to give degree-awarding powers to Further Education colleges could “damage the fragile brand” of Foundation Degrees.

The Chancellor, Lord Sawyer of Darlington, speaking in the debate on the Further Education Bill, said Foundation Degrees had still to establish themselves as an unqualified success story. He warned the FE Bill had “the potential to significantly undermine the excellent progress that has been made by further and higher education institutions to date” with regard to the new two-year qualification.

Lord Sawyer said: “It is not clear to us at my University how students or employers will be better served by these proposals than by the strong University-college partnerships, like our own…Nor is it clear to us the basis upon which Ministers have come to the conclusion that levels of participation, progression and attainment or, perhaps more importantly, protection of standards will be enhanced.”

Lord Sawyer stressed he was making his remarks as a staunch supporter of the Further Education Sector, but that further and higher education can do much more together what they can do alone.

“Of particular concern is the damage that might be done to ensuring that Foundation Degree students have maximum opportunity to progress seamlessly to honours degree programmes,” said Lord Sawyer.

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