The Power to Award Degrees etc. (Engineering College of Technology Limited) Order 2025
The Power to Award Degrees etc. (Engineering College of Technology Limited) Order 2025 authorizes Engineering College of Technology Limited to grant taught awards up to the master's level in specified engineering and technology subjects.
The authorization, effective April 1, 2025, and expiring April 1, 2029, follows advice from the relevant body and is based on the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
The Order lists specific subjects covered and requires that award recipients be enrolled at the college at the time of course completion.
An impact assessment was deemed unnecessary due to the lack of impact on businesses, civil society organizations, or the public sector.
Arguments For
Intended Benefit: Grants Engineering College of Technology Limited the authority to award degrees, potentially increasing educational access and development in engineering and technology fields.
Evidence Cited: The Order cites the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, section 42(1) and (9), and section 46(1)(a) and (7), demonstrating a legal basis for the authorization.
Implementation Method: The Office for Students follows a process of review and advice before granting this authorization. This suggests a robust framework.
Legal/Historical Basis: The Order's legal basis rests on the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, providing a clear framework and precedence for similar authorizations.
Arguments Against
Potential Impacts: The authorization's impact on other educational institutions or the broader market for engineering education is not directly addressed.
Implementation Challenges: The Order doesn't explicitly address any potential challenges in implementing the authorization, such as resource allocation or regulatory compliance by the college.
Alternative Approaches: The Order doesn't explore alternative means of granting authority or potential support mechanisms for Engineering College of Technology Limited.
Unintended Effects: Potential unintended consequences, such as oversaturation of the market or a decrease in quality, are not directly tackled.
The Office for Students, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 42(1) and (9) of the Higher Education and Research Act 20171, makes the following Order.
The Office for Students has requested advice from the relevant body regarding the quality of, and standards applied to, higher education provided by the provider, and has had regard to that advice, in accordance with section 46(1)(a) and (7) of that Act.
This introductory section states that the Office for Students (OfS), using its authority under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, is creating this order.
The OfS sought and considered advice on the quality of education offered by the mentioned college before issuing this authorization.
This Order may be cited as the Power to Award Degrees etc. (Engineering College of Technology Limited) Order 2025 and comes into force on 1st April 2025.
This section provides the order's official title, the citation that will be used to refer to it, and its effective date of April 1st, 2025.
Engineering College of Technology Limited (registered company number 13664803) is authorised to grant awards of the kind mentioned in section 42(2)(c) of the said Act for taught awards up to and including master’s level for subjects related to engineering and technology, including but not limited to the subjects specified in the Schedule.
This section grants Engineering College of Technology Limited (ECTL) the authority to award degrees.
The authority is limited to taught programs up to a master's degree in engineering and technology and includes the subjects listed in the attached schedule.
The legal basis for this authorization is specified in section 42(2)(c) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
The authorisation in article 2 is for a fixed term beginning on 1st April 2025 and expiring at the end of the day on 1st April 2029.
This clarifies that the authorization granted to ECTL is temporary, starting April 1st, 2025, and ending April 1st, 2029.
Engineering College of Technology Limited shall only grant the awards specified in article 2 to persons enrolled with it at the time they complete the course of study for which the award is granted.
This section adds a condition: ECTL may only award degrees to students who were enrolled at the college when they finished their studies.
Jean Arnold Deputy Director of Quality Office for Students 26th March 2025
This section contains the signature and title of the authorizing official, their organization, and the date of signature.
Energy systems engineering Electrical engineering High voltage engineering Industrial automation and instrumentation control Industrial automation engineering Instrumentation and control engineering Mechatronics engineering Power systems analysis and renewable integration Robotics and autonomous systems
This schedule lists specific subjects related to engineering and technology covered by the authorization, given to ECTL.
This Order authorises Engineering College of Technology Limited to grant taught awards up to and including master’s level for subjects related to engineering and technology, including but not limited to the subjects specified in the Schedule. The authorisation is for a fixed term beginning on 1st April 2025 and expiring at the end of the day on 1st April 2029.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on businesses and civil society organisations. The instrument has no impact on the public sector.
This explanatory note summarizes the order's key points and confirms that a formal impact assessment was not required because the order is not expected to affect businesses, civil society or the public sector.