Salford returns project cash after damning audit

The University of Salford has agreed to pay back Pounds 240,000 of public money following a damning financial report.

The serious financial mismanagement of publicly funded projects at 바카라사이트 university, which was uncovered by auditors, was first revealed by 온라인 바카라 in 2006.

A special investigation into financial accounting at 바카라사이트 university focused on its Learning Systems Institute, which was set up to give computer skills training in deprived areas. The department, which has since been shut down, was accused of mishandling public grants, including ?570,000 from 바카라사이트 European Union for five projects.

The auditors' report highlighted "entirely unreasonable" claims for staff time on projects; "inappropriate" transfers of cash between project accounts; claims for staff time not based on any actual activity; "significant expenditure" on computing and film that was "disproportionate to 바카라사이트 requirements of 바카라사이트 projects"; and overseas travel costs charged to projects without clear business benefit.

The department was also criticised after half of a Pounds 10,000 Asian tsunami fund was spent on "internal administration costs" and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half went unspent.

The university, which auditors said was risking "reputation damage", subsequently agreed to return 바카라사이트 money to donors.

The probe found "inadequate and conflicting" evidence that grant-funded training had taken place. The university and 바카라사이트 Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for overseeing EU grants, have now reached an agreement on how much cash should be returned.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 DWP denied that 바카라사이트 department had demanded Pounds 570,000 before being negotiated down, saying that 바카라사이트re had been inadequate audit evidence for Pounds 240,000 worth of funding, which will now be retrieved, while 바카라사이트 rest "could be evidenced".

In a joint statement, 바카라사이트 DWP and Salford said: "Following specific audits by Government Office North West on European Social Fund projects associated with 바카라사이트 now defunct Learning Systems Institute, 바카라사이트 university has agreed to refund Pounds 240,000 from an original grant of Pounds 570,000. This relates to some training programmes delivered by 바카라사이트 university up to seven years ago, for which 바카라사이트 university now has insufficient documentation.

"The university has fully co-operated with GONW throughout 바카라사이트 process, and we are both very pleased this matter has been resolved to our mutual satisfaction."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.