Crazy but true, we were announced as the UK’s first new private sector university college for more than 30 years – BPP University College – almost to this day two years ago.
At the time, David Willetts explained that private universities would help to create a “dynamic and flexible” degree system. David Willetts further provided that, “It is healthy to have a vibrant private sector working alongside our more traditional universities.”
I couldn’t agree more, having been at Cambridge for eight years myself. Mr Willetts has said that private universities will help to develop innovative ways of delivering courses, such as online degrees. Here at BPP, we have a very reliable learning environment which has not gone wrong ever in the 5 years that I’ve been as a student. I’ve been both part-time and full-time at BPP University College (save for a 2-year break when I completed my Master of Law – in international professional legal/commercial law – at the College of Law).
I first completed my Graduate Diploma of Law in 2006-2009 in Waterloo. This was despite the fact I spent six weeks on the ITU of the Royal Free, having become acutely very ill with meningitis. At the time, the lead Consultant there thought it was most unlikely I would be able to leave. At this point, I should like to say that the amount of pastoral support I received from Alphonse, Ben, John and Fiona at Waterloo was truly phenomenal. I became physically disabled for the first time, and I attended my classes at weekends with my father who is sadly no longer alive. Many staff at Waterloo still remember my father well, with enormous fondness, which means a huge amount to me in fact. In May 2012 this year, I became the first student in my cohort of complete the full-time MBA at BPP Business School, near to the Gherkin at St Mary Axe, The City. I had commenced this busy course, covering everything from finance to corporate strategy, in January 2011.
My particular cohort (January start) has online lectures, which are brilliantly delivered. The advantage for me is that I can replay them several times, as I never take anything in the first time. In my case, we’ve had brilliant ‘small group sessions’ with all of my tutors As, Caroline, Diane, Jane, Jonny, Lesley, Lizzie, and Menissa; the activities, and their discussion, have been extremely helpful (helped by the fact that students in my classes are very bright), and also are very closely matched to the assessment and the precise pattern of legal skills sought by the leading employers.
As a further point, I think it’s brilliant that the private sector has been expanded in this way, and the cost of university courses at BPP University College prices I am told is very competitive. BPP already had degree-awarding powers. It has several thousands of students taking courses in its law and business schools and many more taking accountancy qualifications. It was historically the first private university college to have been created since Buckingham in the 1970s, which was first created a university college and then later became the University of Buckingham.
At the time, Carl Lygo, BPP Chief Executive, predicted that: “The education landscape is changing, and over the next decade we will see a different picture emerging, where both students and employers will drive demand for their preferred method of study and training”. I’ve felt that this flexibility, as well as innovation, has been a core value of BPP, as well as excellent. I occasionally catch sight of Carl here in the law school at Holborn, but I happen to see Peter Crisp, Dean and CEO of BPP Law School, much more often in passing. Peter has always been extremely nice to me, and I think it’s wonderful that there is such a close, hard-working team here at Holborn. I think it’s truly phenomenal how Peter bridges what we do in our law school with the outside world, including leading firms here. Reports from my student colleagues at other sites have been equally positive.
And now for a completely personal note – I am mindful of the lecturers’ union in the public sector, voicing concerns about the creation of the new university college as a threat to standards in higher education. I can only really say ‘bah humbug’ to that. As a student who 15 years ago received the second highest first in my subject in the University in the Natural Sciences Tripos at Cambridge, with a good research paper output from me in a lab at Cambridge from my Doctor of Philosophy, I can say most definitely that I have been academically stretched in my MBA and LPC at the BPP Business School and Law School respectively. Both courses are very practitioner-oriented (or in the alternative, practice-facing), though are intellectually demanding. People will know me that I am a passionate leftie, in that I very strongly believe in invididuals bringing value to organisations to create competitive advantage. Notwithstanding that, I feel that the emphasis in the higher education debate should be inclusivity and engagement of all parties, and not potentially tribalistic exclusion. I’d be the first to be tribal – I always support Cambridge in the Varsity Boat Race near the Ship (or at Rugby Match at Twickenham), but this isn’t the time or place to be tribal, I feel!
Happy birthday, BPP University College!
