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Reports that Roger Ward, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AOC), was brought before the Commons education select committee. Question of why Ward had claimed the AOC had a full register of interests when none exists; Possible disciplinary charges for Ward; Ward's links with the finance group Burke Ford Reed; Admission of Ward that the register does not exist. INSETS: Hodge quizzes AOC chairman;So where is the register now?.

Reports that college employers in Great Britain are to press for a single union to represent all staff in further education. Policy paper by the Association of Colleges; Proposal to strengthen the two separate unions, NATFHE and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers; Legislation forcing union recognition.

Focuses on British colleges' views on the performance tables released as of November 21, 1997. Alleged failure to cover the majority of college courses; Decision making issues.

Reports that British Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett ordered colleges to set targets for slashing drop-out rates, and called for all new students to be tested as part of a drive to improve their basic skills. Zero tolerance policy towards schools; Merger and cooperation orders.

Reports on the failure of national colleges in Great Britain to award a full rise in compensation for college teachers and lecturers, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Teachers in Further & Higher Education. Percentage of further education institutions which have granted the pay increase; Comments from labor officials.

Reveals the amount needed by the British further and higher education sector in order to realize Prime Minister Tony Blair's vision of increasing enrollment in university and college by 500,000 by 2002. Shortfall in income from higher education tuition fees; Allocation of resources saved from reforms to universities and further education.

Reports on the possible creation of thousands of extra places in British universities from 1997 to 2002. Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett's efforts to ease off cap on student numbers; Provision of increased opportunities to the youth; Denial of deleterious effect of charging of tuition fees and abolition of student grants on college recruitment.

Reports on British senior education experts' consideration of proposals for reforming A-levels and vocational qualifications. Possible implementation of reforms by year 2001; Absence of proposal for a British baccalaureate.

Focuses on the problems faced by British students' contemplating on college education. Need to pay 1,000 pounds annually for tuition; Unfairness of concession granted by government to gap-year students who secured a deferred undergraduate place in advance.

Discloses that the number of last-minute applications to universities in Great Britain during 1997 increased by more than a third as compared to 1996. Number of people who made the late applications via the clearing system; Concern over the question of fees for gap-year students; Status of students studying for access courses.

Reports on the changes in the British Labour government's plans for higher education. Non-charging of fees from gap-year students entering university in 1998; Provision of free tuition to students who received an offer of a deferred place at university in August 1997; Student leaders' demand for equal treatment of all applicants.

Describes the interrogation given by British legislators to Ron Dearing, chairman of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education. Reaction to Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett's plan to abolish student grants; Stance concerning the charging of fees from university students; Opposition to selling of debts accrued under the student loan scheme.

Reports that Sir Ron Dearing has urged British government ministers to act immediately to get more people into higher education. Call for the prioritization of a campaign to promote a new system of student loans; Government's instant rejection of Dearing's recommendations on funding; Other issues that need to be addressed.

Reports that the continuing education colleges in Great Britain will be the focus of a massive expansion in higher education under the Sir Ron Dearing committee's recommendations. Urging to lift the cap on student numbers in Higher National Diploma and Certificate-level courses; Student numbers in degree courses; Other proposals that would benefit colleges.

Reports that adult education advocates have criticized the Sir Ron Dearing committee for refusing to include British adult education in its review of higher education. Failure to grasp the issues faced by part-time students; Lack of a recommendation to relax benefit rules to make higher education more accessible to the jobless; Rejection of a subsidy for part-time students.

Reports that Sir Ron Dearing has urged British firms to pay towards higher education and training. Importance of training to the British economy; Graduate pay; Higher education's benefits to industry and individuals.

Reports that Sir William Stubbs has said that Sir Ron Dearing's plans for great expansion in British higher education are unlikely to be realized because of a government funding shortfall. Dearing report's call for a 350 million pound infusion into universities; Government ministers' rejection of Dearing's proposal on fees; Public dismay over plans to scrap grants for students.

Profiles Sir Ron Dearing, who headed a committee that undertook a review of British higher education. Four principles of higher education; Legacy of proposals which will permanently change the system; Funding issues; Compact between education, individuals and the state.

Reports that students are scrambling to take advantage of Great Britain's final year of free university places. Requirement to pay up to 1,000 pounds in annual tuition fees; Phaseout of maintenance grants for new students; System of loans and fees which could leave students 10,000 pounds in debt; Rejection of key parts of Sir Ron Dearing's recommendations for higher education.

Discloses that a dispute has broken out after college funding chiefs backed the first large-scale merger of further and higher education institutions in Great Britain. Further Education Funding Council regional officials' approval of plans for the merger of Derby University with neighboring High Peak and Mackworth colleges; Expansion of further education in Derbyshire; Guarantees in the merger proposal.

Discloses that some British college principals are involved in an illicit trade in black market students that could cost taxpayers millions. Move by under-performing colleges to annex threatened courses from cash-strapped neighbors to help meet recruitment targets; Experiences of some principals who have been approached by colleagues seeking extra students.

Reports that British colleges are being encouraged to make sophisticated links with their university counterparts in attempts to dismantle the barriers between further and higher education. American two-plus-two model of degrees; Zero courses; Practice at Staffordshire University, England.

Reports that the Association for College Management (ACM) has launched a manifesto entitled `An Agenda for Life' which demanded for wide-ranging revision of the post-16 education and training in Great Britain. Urging for a national debate on the purposes of the education system; Appeal for extra cash to cover pay rises and inflation; Need for a coherent policy on post-compulsory education.

Points out the deleterious effect of staff cuts and equipment shortages on the quality of teaching in colleges in Great Britain. Struggle of colleges against long-term underinvestment; Limiting of students' choice of courses.

Reports that the British Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) has launched a full-scale inquiry into standards over colleges' franchising practices with business and community groups. Funding for cash-limited further education and training budget; Review of quality assurance arrangements.

Reveals British colleges' lack of support for the Conservative Party. Response to Labour Party's education spokesperson David Blunkett's pledge expansion in further education; Tories' cuts on the colleges' budgets.

Highlights the British Liberal Democrats' agenda for change in further education and training. Changes in funding, student support and qualifications in colleges and post-16 curriculum.

Reports on the scheduled launching of the British Further Education Development Agency's pilot scheme to gather examples of high quality teaching in colleges. Publication of guides to best ideas from the classroom.

Focuses on funding options designed to cut college budgets in Great Britain in the 1997-1998 academic year. Includes short courses; Franchising; Education for adults.