An east London-based private provider has gained permission to call itself a university after Companies House approved the nomenclature in error, with the government claiming that it had ¡°no record¡± of clearing the ¡°specific name¡± used.

The confusion over the status of the European University of Business has raised questions about the Department for Education¡¯s processes for regulating university title and use of the word ¡°university¡±, the gold standard of UK higher education regarded as key to the reputation of the sector.

Dominic Palmer-Brown, EUB¡¯s vice-chancellor and a former pro vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University, said that his institution ¡°has university status, having followed formal procedures, which took more than a year, to obtain registration with Companies House as a university, including non-objection for the use of that title from DfE¡±.

Companies House gave permission for the company previously known as EUOB Ltd to change its name to the European University of Business in December 2018, documents show.

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While institutions have traditionally been required to secure degree-awarding powers as a precondition to securing university title, the DfE has recently begun allowing use of the word to new providers ¨C whom it is seeking to encourage to enter the sector ¨C without such powers.

The traditional route to university title is protected under higher education legislation. However,?Times Higher Education?has previously reported that the DfE had granted permission under different legislation ¨C the Company Limited Liability, Partnership and Business Names (Sensitive Words) and Expressions Regulations 2014 ¨C for both Gary Neville¡¯s?University Academy 92?and the?University Campus of Football Business?to use the word ¡°university¡± in their names.

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The name change for the EUB is an even more significant development, as the institution is not using any modifying word such as ¡°academy¡± in conjunction with ¡°university¡±.

EUB did not respond to queries from?THE?on whether it has secured degree-awarding powers. The institution, based in Forest Gate, lists its chancellor as Sir Graeme Davies, the former vice-chancellor of the universities of Glasgow, Liverpool and London, and the ex-chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

After higher education data specialist Andy Youell raised questions on Twitter about how?the?EUB¡¯s name change had come about, THE?enquired with?the?DfE and Companies House.

A DfE spokeswoman said: ¡°University is a sensitive word that is protected in legislation in England. Any institution that wants to register a business name that includes the word ¡®university¡¯ with Companies House must first provide evidence that the responsible department does not object.

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¡°There is no record of this formal clearance ever being given to any institution to use the specific name ¡®European University of Business¡¯. We work closely with Companies House and Prospects to prevent misuse of the term ¡®university¡¯.¡±

A Companies House spokesman said: ¡°I can confirm that Companies House accepted the word university in this name in error. We are investigating this matter and will contact the company.¡±

Paul Cottrell, acting general secretary of the University and College Union, said: ¡°University title has always been?an important indicator of quality for students, so?the?government and the regulator?must be vigilant in policing its use.¡±

john.morgan@timeshighereducation.com