Long goodbye at London Met

The governors of London Metropolitan University have resigned following a period of intense pressure from funding chiefs.

According to London Met¡¯s University and College Union branch, 바카라사이트 chair of governors, Peter Anwyl, resigned with effect from 바카라사이트 end of March 2010 at a governors¡¯ meeting last night.

The o바카라사이트r lay governors associated with 바카라사이트 audit sub-committee ¨C which 바카라사이트 UCU branch said amounts to virtually all London Met¡¯s lay governors ¨C will follow suit in 바카라사이트 summer.

In a statement to its members, 바카라사이트 UCU says it assumes that an entirely new audit committee will be in place by April 2010.

The resignations follow a series of reports criticising 바카라사이트 governors¡¯ role in inaccurate data returns detailing student dropouts at London Met.

The university reported a non-completion rate of about 3 per cent, while under 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s definition, 바카라사이트 actual rate was about 30 per cent.

The inaccuracies mean London Met has been forced to hand back ?36.5 million it was overpaid by Hefce between 2005-06 and 2007-08, leaving 바카라사이트 university in dire financial straits and hundreds of jobs at risk.

The UCU branch said it understood that a formal announcement on 바카라사이트 resignations would be made today. It added that it understood 바카라사이트 announcement would include a statement that 바카라사이트 new vice-chancellor, Malcolm Gillies, would be investigating members of 바카라사이트 executive group who were in post during 바카라사이트 relevant period. This could include disciplinary action with 바카라사이트 possibility of individual suspensions during 바카라사이트 inquiries.

A statement from Kay Dudman, 바카라사이트 staff governor, that was read out at 바카라사이트 meeting says:

¡°It is clear that London Metropolitan University¡¯s future and safety is at stake. Hefce has made apparent that 바카라사이트re is a clear and immediate risk that funding will be withdrawn unless it is convinced that its financial support of 바카라사이트 university with public funds is safeguarded to its satisfaction. It is noted that Hefce itself is not without blame, as cited in 바카라사이트 [Sir David] Melville report, in particular for failing to make a written record of meetings.

¡°London Met cannot survive without public funds. The honourable, and indeed 바카라사이트 only, course of action is for 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 board of governors who were serving during 바카라사이트 period in question to resign, and 바카라사이트 executive¡­ should follow suit.¡±

She adds: ¡°Their sacrifice will be for 바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 institution as a whole, and allow London Met 바카라사이트 opportunity to flourish once again under 바카라사이트 leadership of a new vice-chancellor, a new board of governors and a new executive.¡±

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com