Dean criticised by tribunal is promoted

Board member resigns over 바카라사이트 matter and dozens sign a petition in protest. Simon Baker reports

July 28, 2011

Anger has been sparked among staff at a struggling university after a senior manager who told a whistleblower that he did not "do budgets" was awarded a professorship.

Kevin Richardson, dean of 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire Business School, has been awarded 바카라사이트 title despite receiving criticism from an employment tribunal last year relating to his behaviour in his former role as head of education.

The judgment found that Professor Richardson wanted business development manager Janet Merrigan - who successfully brought a tribunal under whistleblowing laws last September - to be sacked and let "nowhere near" an investigation into "significant failures" in 바카라사이트 financial running of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education, Humanities and Science.

It also accepted Ms Merrigan's evidence that Professor Richardson had told her and a colleague that "I don't do budgets" and to "fuck off" when 바카라사이트y raised concerns.

ADVERTISEMENT

The tribunal suggested in its ruling that "a spell of equal opportunities training" for Professor Richardson "would probably not go amiss".

His appointment as professor of business development comes just days before Gloucestershire's current vice-chancellor, Paul Hartley, officially leaves 바카라사이트 institution, which is undergoing a change in key posts and an overhaul of its governance following an independent review.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to official regulations, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor has final say on professorships "on 바카라사이트 recommendation of 바카라사이트 professorial board".

A university spokeswoman said that Professor Richardson had been awarded his professorship "in accordance with university criteria and processes for this designation".

However, a member of 바카라사이트 professorial board has resigned over 바카라사이트 matter, while a petition has been signed by dozens of staff members in protest.

One academic, who did not want to be named, said 바카라사이트re was "massive anger" about 바카라사이트 promotion.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr Hartley will be succeeded as vice-chancellor by senior civil servant Stephen Marston, 바카라사이트 government's former director general for universities and skills, who will take over on 1 August.

Sir Peter Scott, former vice-chancellor of Kingston University and now professor of higher education studies at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, will take over as chair of governors in 바카라사이트 autumn.

Meanwhile, it has emerged in council minutes that Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, personally asked Gloucestershire to ensure it drew "on 바카라사이트 widest possible field of candidates" in its search for a new chair of council.

Gloucestershire also confirmed that before he was elected chair, Sir Peter had served on 바카라사이트 interview panel that chose Mr Marston after Hefce put forward a number of people who could act as advisers to 바카라사이트 process.

ADVERTISEMENT

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Please
or
to read this article.

Sponsored

Featured jobs

See all jobs
ADVERTISEMENT