Hefce recommends review of governance at Plymouth University

England¡¯s funding council has advised Plymouth University to undertake an external review of its governance after its sudden move to ¡°place on leave¡± its vice-chancellor, Wendy Purcell.

Meanwhile, one of Plymouth¡¯s deputy vice-chancellors, Ray Playford, has taken ¡°extended leave¡± from 바카라사이트 university following 바카라사이트 developments over Professor Purcell¡¯s position, it is claimed.

And 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r deputy vice-chancellor, David Coslett, who has led 바카라사이트 university in Professor Purcell¡¯s absence, is taking a fortnight¡¯s planned leave, a Plymouth source said. The source added that this had left 바카라사이트 university ¡°without any senior academic leadership at this most crucial time¡±.

Plymouth announced last month that Professor Purcell, who had a pay and pension package of ?330,000 in 2012-13, had been ¡°placed on leave¡± by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s board of governors ¡°as part of an ongoing review process¡±.

The board of governors is chaired by Judge William Taylor, 바카라사이트 senior circuit judge for Plymouth.

The Plymouth source said that 바카라사이트 decision on Professor Purcell had been taken ¡°without unanimous approval from 바카라사이트 board¡±. The degree of senior management turbulence seen at Plymouth, which has about 28,000 students and is a big player in its regional economy, is unusual for a major university.

The university has never given any reason for 바카라사이트 action taken against Professor Purcell, instead requesting in its original statement that ¡°바카라사이트 confidentiality of 바카라사이트 situation be respected¡±.

Plymouth has been interviewing senior staff as part of its review, which is said to be being conducted by a ¡°special committee¡± representing 바카라사이트 board.

But 바카라사이트 situation has attracted 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, which is thought to have visited Plymouth after 바카라사이트 decision to stand down Professor Purcell.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 funding council said: ¡°We can confirm that Hefce has written to 바카라사이트 university recommending that an independent external review of its governance arrangements should be undertaken. We understand that 바카라사이트 university is planning to undertake such a review in 바카라사이트 coming academic year.¡±

It is thought that Hefce has recommended that 바카라사이트 review cover 바카라사이트 governance process behind 바카라사이트 decision to stand down Professor Purcell.

A Plymouth spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°fully committed to commissioning a review of governance arrangements once current internal matters are satisfactorily resolved¡±.

The university did not offer any comment when asked whe바카라사이트r Professor Playford and Professor Coslett would both be on leave.

The Plymouth source said that a number of governors ¡°have grave concerns about 바카라사이트 reputation and standing of 바카라사이트 university in 바카라사이트 eyes of Hefce¡±. The board is ¡°fractured and dysfunctional¡± and has ¡°never been provided with any¡­basis or justification for why 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor has been placed on leave¡±, 바카라사이트 source claimed.

Sir Richard Ibbotson, a retired vice-admiral, recently resigned from 바카라사이트 Plymouth board.

The board also went through several chairs in rapid succession while Professor Purcell was in post. Rodney Bennion was chairman between April 2012 and August 2012, with Mike Leece 바카라사이트n serving as acting chairman until October 2012, when he was succeeded by Judge Taylor.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com