BPP University
BPP University is a private university in the United Kingdom specialising in law, business, finance, accountancy, banking, technology, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, psychology and healthcare. BPP University has sites in several UK city centre locations, particularly in London. Since 2009 it has been owned and run by BPP Holdings, part of the US-based for-profit education company Apollo Education Group.
Former names | BPP Law School (1992) BPP College of Professional Studies (2005) BPP University College of Professional Studies (2010) |
---|---|
Motto | University for the Professions |
Type | Private |
Established | 1992 |
Parent institution | BPP Holdings |
Chancellor | Lord Chris Holmes |
Vice-Chancellor | Professor Tim Stewart |
Students | 16,000 |
Location | , United Kingdom |
Website | bpp.com |
The University takes its name from the founders Alan Brierley, Richard Price and Charles Prior who in 1976 set up as Brierley Price Prior, to train accountancy students.
The university is a UK degree-awarding body with four schools: BPP University School of Business and Technology, BPP University Law School, BPP University School of Health and BPP University School of Nursing.[1] The university was awarded the 2010 Education Investor award for 'Post-16 Education Provider of the Year' and Education Investor magazine's 'Higher/Professional Education Provider of the Year 2013' award in November.[2]
In June 2019, Times Higher Education reported that BPP owners, the Apollo Education Group, were looking to sell the University just two years after ownership changed hands in 2017.[3]
In December 2019, The Lawyer reported that "BPP Law School has been taken off the market following six months in which no potential buyer willing to pay the asking price was found."[4]
Locations
BPP University has study centres in Abingdon, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London and Manchester.[5] Beginning in 2016, through CIS London & Partners managing partner Svetlana London, an alumni; BPP also offered its MBA (Legal Services) programme in Russia.[6]
Organisation and administration
BPP University is one of nine private degree awarding bodies in the UK. It receives direct funding from tuition fees at the level of its choice.[7]
Academic programmes
The university offers degree programmes in law,[8] business (management, marketing, human resources, entrepreneurship, leadership) accounting, finance, psychology and health studies. In 2011, it had 6,780 students taking courses in its Business School, Law School, School of Health and School of Foundation & English Language Studies. A further 30,000 took accountancy qualifications with BPP's professional training organisation BPP Professional Education. The university also manages and operates McTimoney College of Chiropractic[9] and through that partnership offers four-year master's degrees in Chiropractic.[7]
Unfair dismissal tribunal
From June to July of 2020, it was reported that former employee Employment Law lecturer [12] Elizabeth Aylott has successfully brought a constructive unfair dismissal claim at an employment tribunal after BPP University failed to reduce her workload despite her mental health struggles. Her concerns, later diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder, were repeatedly raised issues in reference to her workload, including a period of working over 55 hours per week and having to cancel annual leave in order to meet work demands.[13]
The tribunal found that Aylott had been constructively unfairly dismissed on the basis that BPP University's conduct had undermined trust and confidence. It was also held that an occupational health referral for Aylott was not arranged in a timely manner, and there had been a rush to secure her departure from the University as a result of stigma arising from her mental health.[14]
References
- "Private university expands into health sector". BBC News. 4 July 2012.
- http://www.educationinvestor.co.uk/awards/awardsWinners2013.aspx
- Morgan, John (19 June 2019). "BPP sale set to test appetite for for-profit investment". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- Simmons, Richard The Lawyer (16 December 2019) "BPP off the market for now as no buyers found". Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- "About BPP University". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- "BPP University teams up with CIS London & Partners to offer innovative MBA (Legal Services) programme", Lawyer Monthly 12 September 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- Sean Coughlan (25 July 2010). "First private university in decades to be created". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- Melanie Newman, "For-profit college to offer two-year law degree," 17 January 2008, The Times Higher Education, found at The Times Higher Education website. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
- "Undergraduate Programmes". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- "Foundation Degrees & Certificates – BPP University". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- "Postgraduate Marketing Programmes – BPP University". Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- McKinney, CJ (25 June 2020). "Former BPP employment law lecturer successfully sues for unfair dismissal". Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- Webber, Ashleigh (30 June 2020). "Lecturer called ‘mad as a box of frogs’ wins constructive dismissal claim". Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- Oliver, Joanne (3 July 2020). "Failure to Address Workload Concerns May Amount to Breach of Contract and Discrimination Claims". Retrieved 12 August 2020.