1 April 2021

Independent Higher Education (IHE) is today announcing six new members whose applications were recently approved by the IHE Board. The new members are The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, Oak Hill College, the European School of Osteopathy, Further Learning Group, Istituto Marangoni and TEDI-London.

Alex Proudfoot, Chief Executive of IHE, said:
“We could not hope for a more eloquent expression of the breadth and innovation of independent higher education today than these six new members, all of whom we are delighted to welcome into the IHE family. The last 12 months have challenged all of us, but independent providers have proved remarkably resilient, living up to their reputation with an agile and student-centred approach, and we have done our very best to support their efforts.

“Whether the path leads through engineering, the creative arts or Christian ministry, we will continue to celebrate the very special learning environments and very personal journeys towards a particular vocation that independent providers have always offered, and their students have come to expect. We are particularly pleased to be joined this year by two brand new and exciting HE providers, as the HERA generation comes of age.” 

The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology is one of the first of the wave of new providers envisaged by the 2017 Higher Education and Research Act (HERA). In 2020 they became the first provider in the UK to be awarded New Degree Awarding Powers. The Institute’s Undergraduate Engineers spend three days a week studying towards a BEng (Hons) Engineering degree apprenticeship, and two days working on live projects as part of Dyson’s Global Engineering Team – all delivered on company’s technology campus in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Following four years of successful partnership with WMG, University of Warwick they will welcome their first cohort of Dyson Institute-registered students in September 2021.

Matt Wilson, Director of The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, said:
“We’re delighted to be joining Independent Higher Education. As a brand new HE provider with a pioneering model, we’re looking forward to being an active participant in the IHE community: sharing our experiences, learning from high-quality institutions and collaborating to encourage positive change to the higher education landscape.”

TEDI-London is a new start-up higher education provider for future engineers, founded by Arizona State University, King’s College London and UNSW Sydney. They were one of the first to benefit from IHE’s Launchpad programme for new providers in 2019-20 and will open their doors to the first cohort of students in September 2021.

Carmai Pestell, Registrar at TEDI-London, said:
“Independent Higher Education has been instrumental to our development from an initial idea to a registered Higher Education Provider, giving us advice and guidance on our OfS Registration, our Access and Participation Plan and our New Degree Awarding Powers application. We are looking forward working with IHE and other likeminded small or specialist HEPs.”

Oak Hill College  is a theological college based in North London which aims to prepare students from Anglican and Independent churches for Christian ministry. The College currently has around 125 students and its programmes offer vocational training for a range of ministries in Anglican and Independent churches in the UK and overseas.

Grant Farrant, Director of Operations and Finance at Oak Hill College, said:
“The team at Oak Hill have become increasingly aware of the benefits that membership of Independent Higher Education can bring – never more so than during the past year, when the pandemic has helped to shine a particular light on how a body representing the views of independent providers can bring real benefit, support and efficiencies.”

Istituto Marangoni  is an international fashion, art and design school, founded in 1935 in Milan.  Their London School of Fashion and Design is a well-established higher education provider with a wide range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the specialised areas of fashion design, fashion business, fashion styling and design.

Diane Rainsbury, Registrar at Istituto Marangoni London said:
“Independent Higher Education understands the distinctive role of independent providers in the higher education sector and allows them to speak with a stronger collective voice that government will listen to, while also celebrating their fantastic diversity. The extensive range of policy briefings that IHE members receive are invaluable in navigating the ever-changing regulatory environment.”

The Further Learning Group  has provided a range of online and blended learning courses since 2004, enabling students to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to change their careers and to continue to develop professionally. They offer part time courses in Interior Design, Fashion Design, Photography, Garden Design and Digital Marketing in the UK, Ireland, Australia and USA.

Ciarda Barrett, Chief Academic Officer at The Further Learning Group, said:
“Our mission is to empower our students to do what they truly love and go further. We are at a pivotal time in the growth of our organisation and we see joining Independent Higher Education as a part of this growth. We look forward to being an active member of this wonderfully diverse community and benefitting from their experience and expertise.”

The European School of Osteopathy  is a world-class provider of osteopathic education available at both undergraduate and postgraduate based in Maidstone in Kent. They specialise in teaching with a practical focus, so that their students meet the exacting standards of the General Osteopathic Council, and after graduation can practice as registered osteopaths.

Sue Kendall-Seatter, Head of Quality at the European School of Osteopathy, said:
“As a small provider it can sometimes be challenging to find a voice or representation within the higher education sector. We wanted to be a part of a wider higher education community where we can learn from and share best practice, whilst at the same time knowing we were only a few clicks away from the latest intelligence.”