THE Government cleared the way for a huge expansion of higher education yesterday by allowing colleges and even private companies to claim university status without having to conduct any research.

The proposal, which removes the historic requirement for institutions holding the title “university” to carry out teaching and research, means that a McDonald’s University of Burger Flipping may no longer be in the realm of fantasy.

The announcement by Alan Johnson, the Minister for Higher Education, means that teaching-only universities can be established with powers to award degrees.

Mr Johnson told the Commons that he wanted to ensure that “high-quality and deserving institutions in the public and private sector can gain degree-awarding powers and university title”. The Government wanted to “make it easier for non-traditional higher education organisations to apply for degree-awarding powers”.

The decision was taken despite opposition from existing universities during consultations on the proposal. Universities UK, the body representing vice-chancellors and principals, reacted cautiously, saying: “It is important that the research-informed nature of the honours degree is maintained, as this is central to what higher education is about, and to our international appeal.”

Six higher education institutions that have long sought university status would be certain to qualify when the proposals come into force in September. They are: University College Northampton, Canterbury Christchurch University College, Buckinghamshire Chilterns College, Bolton Institute, Liverpool Hope College and University College Worcester.

It also creates an opening for companies to establish their own universities. Mr Johnson said that he intended to remove the existing requirement for institutions to have students in at least five subject areas to qualify for university title. Critics will see the reforms as devaluing the prestige of university status. The Conservatives said the Government was seeking a “back-door way to achieve its 50 per cent target for young people to go to higher education without spending any money”.

Chris Grayling, a shadow education minister, said: “We do not believe that it is right to split teaching from research in universities.”

Mr Johnson told the Commons that the decision was taken as part of the Government’s plans to “modernise and recognise the diversity of the sector”. He said: “Quality and standards will remain the overriding factor in gaining degree-awarding powers and university title.

“Strict criteria will still apply and to retain their powers organisations outside the publicly funded sector will have to prove that they are maintaining degree-awarding power standards through a regular audit by the Quality Assurance Agency.”

The proposal was criticised by academics when it appeared in the Higher Education White Paper last year. They argued that research and teaching were inseparable because students benefited from the insights of lecturers who were at the leading edge of scholarship in their subjects.

Mr Johnson said that existing publicly funded universities and higher education colleges in England would hold their degree-awarding powers indefinitely. Other institutions would have them only for a fixed period, yet to be decided.

Few companies are likely to take up the option to establish their own universities because of the requirement on student numbers. The Department for Education and Skills said that organisations seeking university title would need to have the equivalent of at least 3,000 full-time students studying for honours degrees or two-year vocational degrees.

Mr Johnson postponed his decision this year after acknowledging unhappiness in the higher education sector about uncoupling teaching from research.

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