FT owner unites with brands for college

Pearson Publishing is to launch its own college offering business degrees developed with brands including BT and Cisco, the first time a FTSE 100 company has directly developed a degree course.

PearsonPublishing

Pearson College will open next September, teaching a degree course validated by the University of London.

The publisher has also partnered with companies including Cisco, Atos, the Peter Jones Foundation and BT to develop the business and enterprise degree, which will teach practical, hands-on skills to students.

It will be taught at Pearson’s offices in London and Manchester and will offer places from this autumn. The degree will include a internship program as well as mentors from the publisher’s brands for students. Applicants must achieve at least an A and two Bs at A-level, or the equivalent, as well as pass an entry exam to get on the course.

Students can either take fast-track two year course or complete the degree over three years.

Pearson, which owns the Financial Times and the Edexcel exam board, says the college will be for “students who are serious about succeeding in business.”

It comes amid a government plan to allow more private companies to enter the growing but relatively small private higher education sector.

Last month, KFC launched an honours business management course, a move its owner Yum! Brands said could lead to other degrees being launched under its Pizza Hut and Taco Brands in future. Link

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