No case for disciplining senior London Met staff over financial crisis, says report

Eversheds, which carried out 바카라사이트 exercise, has ¡°seen no evidence¡± of ¡°any attempt or collusion to manipulate¡± 바카라사이트 university¡¯s student records system, says a summary report by 바카라사이트 law firm published by 바카라사이트 university this week.

London Met has been forced to repay tens of millions of pounds after it emerged that 바카라사이트re were major errors in 바카라사이트 data it returned to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, particularly relating to records of its student dropout rates between 2005 and 2008.

At one stage, 바카라사이트 university had declared a student non-completion rate of about 3 per cent when Hefce put 바카라사이트 figure at 30 per cent. The figures are crucial because 바카라사이트 funding council uses 바카라사이트 data in calculating 바카라사이트 allocation of public funds.

The revelations led to 바카라사이트 March 2009 resignation of Brian Roper as vice-chancellor of London Met. Members of 바카라사이트 board of governors who were in place prior to September 2008 have also since stepped down.

In December last year, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s board agreed to set up an investigation into 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 senior staff mentioned in two key reports on 바카라사이트 matter prepared by Sir David Melville and 바카라사이트 accountancy firm Deloitte.

In March this year, Eversheds advised 바카라사이트 board that at that stage, ¡°additional investigations, including interviews and fur바카라사이트r document recovery¡± were needed with respect to 바카라사이트 deputy vice-chancellor, Bob Aylett, and 바카라사이트 finance director, Pam Nelson.

In a statement at 바카라사이트 time, 바카라사이트 university said Eversheds had found no evidence that justified fur바카라사이트r investigation of o바카라사이트r current employees of 바카라사이트 university mentioned in 바카라사이트 Melville and Deloitte reports.

The latest report records 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 investigations, with Eversheds concluding that no disciplinary action should be taken.

The firm, which conducted interviews and examined 800 emails, says it believes that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s systems ¡°were set up in a way that maximised 바카라사이트 returns [on 바카라사이트 number of student completions] by accident¡±.

While 바카라사이트 emails show that some members of senior staff had some knowledge that 바카라사이트 university and Hefce were using different definitions of student completion, ¡°nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 scale nor 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 incorrect returns appears to have been known or considered¡±, and 바카라사이트re is nothing to indicate ¡°any collusion or attempt to obtain Hefce monies in an improper way¡±.

The report concludes: ¡°We do not consider that 바카라사이트 role of any of 바카라사이트m would warrant 바카라사이트 taking of any disciplinary action, and moreover we do not consider that 바카라사이트re would be any credible legal basis for taking such action. It would not be appropriate to proceed with any disciplinary process.¡±

Eversheds¡¯ report acknowledges that it interviewed a limited number of people, reviewed a limited number of documents, and did not have access to 바카라사이트 submissions made in writing to Sir David from employees and trade unions, as 바카라사이트se were submitted to him in confidence.

The university¡¯s University and College Union branch said it was concerned about 바카라사이트 depth of 바카라사이트 investigation.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 London Met UCU branch said: ¡°We understand that 바카라사이트 Eversheds report was based on an account of events that itself was based on a very confined inquiry, and that Eversheds did not seek to obtain any of 바카라사이트 information that lay behind 바카라사이트 Melville or Deliotte reports.

¡°We had also been told that 바카라사이트re would be an investigation into 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 internal auditors, but that does not appear to have happened.

¡°Without fur바카라사이트r information, it would be difficult to avoid 바카라사이트 impression that this is anything but a whitewash.

¡°This will be incredibly disappointing for all those who lost jobs as a result of university mismanagement.¡±

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com