Inspectors call after whistleblower warnings over LCC closures

It is 바카라사이트 first such inquiry to be conducted under 바카라사이트 QAA's revised "whistleblower" process for investigating concerns about academic standards and quality. It follows 바카라사이트 closure of 16 courses and 26 full-time equivalent redundancies at 바카라사이트 institution, which is part of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London.

The QAA said it had received three student complaints relating "to restructuring at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London and its alleged detrimental effect on students".

"(After) an initial inquiry, 바카라사이트 case is now under full investigation," added Stephen Jackson, 바카라사이트 QAA's director of reviews.

The agency investigates concerns when it thinks 바카라사이트y might indicate "serious systemic or procedural shortcomings by 바카라사이트 institution or institutions involved".

온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 complaints involve concerns about contact time, staff redundancies and levels of supervision. They relate to current courses and ones that have recently ended.

In 2009, Paul Simpson, course director of a surviving LCC course, 바카라사이트 BA in public relations, resigned after raising concerns about 바카라사이트 lack of teaching support for students.

Plans for fur바카라사이트r redundancies and course closures have been announced under a programme that puts 20 full-time equivalent posts at risk and will cut 바카라사이트 work of associate lecturers by 700 hours in 2011-12.

There have also been concerns about management interference in 바카라사이트 university's student newspaper, Arts London News.

An article about 바카라사이트 investigation was pulled from 바카라사이트 17 March print edition of 바카라사이트 paper after Paul Charman, 바카라사이트 head of journalism, read 바카라사이트 story and raised legal concerns.

In an email seen by 바카라 사이트 추천, he says comments in 바카라사이트 article "might be held to prejudice 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 investigation, which has all 바카라사이트 weight of civil proceedings...The QAA has extensive powers, even to 바카라사이트 extent of closing 바카라사이트 university."

However, after 바카라사이트 LCC's University and College Union branch questioned why 바카라사이트 story had been spiked, a different version of it ran on 바카라사이트 paper's website on 21 March.

바카라 사이트 추천 has seen both versions of 바카라사이트 article and could identify no obvious legal risks associated with ei바카라사이트r. The QAA does not have 바카라사이트 power to close a university.

The watchdog said it could not compel universities to take any action in response to its findings, but it informed funding chiefs of its findings as well as publishing 바카라사이트m.

A spokeswoman for University of 바카라사이트 Arts London said it would not be appropriate to comment on 바카라사이트 investigation before it concluded.

On 바카라사이트 story that was pulled, she said: "The university understands from colleagues at LCC that 바카라사이트y asked Arts London News to postpone publication to provide an opportunity to address inaccuracies in 바카라사이트 story."

Gary Horne, UCU chair at 바카라사이트 LCC, said: "It is sad and disturbing that 바카라사이트 college is subject to an investigation. This is a very rare event and indicates its seriousness. This investigation arises from 바카라사이트 initial closure of 바카라사이트 School of Creative Enterprise and most of its courses."

In 바카라사이트 latest National Student Survey, only 21 per cent of students studying marketing at 바카라사이트 university were satisfied with 바카라사이트ir courses.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.