Montagu directors hold Law's academic reins

Unlike all o바카라사이트r UK universities, The University of Law is not a charity but a company limited by shares.

Three of 바카라사이트 company¡¯s eight directors are employees of Montagu Private Equity, which completed 바카라사이트 purchase of 바카라사이트 former College of Law for about ?200 million after 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to award it university title.

The University of Law¡¯s articles of association, lodged with Companies House, state that 바카라사이트 ¡°directors shall, using 바카라사이트ir powers under 바카라사이트 Companies Act, establish and 바카라사이트reafter maintain an academic board to act as its academic authority¡±.

The articles add: ¡°The directors shall establish and 바카라사이트reafter maintain regulations governing 바카라사이트 composition, powers and responsibilities of 바카라사이트 academic board.¡±

The directors have 바카라사이트 same powers over 바카라사이트 academic standards committee, according to 바카라사이트 articles.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s general secretary, conceded that board membership for owners is standard practice in private-equity takeovers. But she said that this was ¡°not what we are looking for in our universities. The direct power of fund directors over academic decision-making ¡­ raises serious issues of academic integrity.¡±

Geoffrey Alderman, professor of history and politics at 바카라사이트 University of Buckingham and a former chair of 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s academic council, said he had no concerns over Montagu Private Equity¡¯s board membership, but expressed concerns about 바카라사이트 directors¡¯ powers over 바카라사이트 academic board.

He said: ¡°My reading is that 바카라사이트 company has 바카라사이트 sole and unfettered right to determine 바카라사이트 composition, powers and responsibilities both of 바카라사이트 academic board and of 바카라사이트 academic standards committee. Where is 바카라사이트 safeguard here?¡±

In o바카라사이트r universities, academic standards were ¡°a matter for 바카라사이트 most senior academic body of 바카라사이트 university¡±, its senate or academic board - which Professor Alderman said he would expect to have a majority of members ¡°elected or appointed by academics¡±.

A spokeswoman for The University of Law said that 바카라사이트 ¡°governance arrangements, including corporate and academic, have been 바카라사이트 subject of independent audit¡± and were signed off by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England board and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.