Staff promised bright new year as London Met aims to move on quickly

Governors agree to resign after Hefce threatens to withdraw funding. Rebecca Attwood writes

December 31, 2009

Staff at scandal-struck London Metropolitan University have been promised that 바카라사이트 prospects for 바카라사이트 new year are looking "much brighter" after 바카라사이트 university's governors agreed to resign.

In a message informing staff of 바카라사이트ir departure, Alfred Morris, 바카라사이트 university's interim vice-chancellor, says 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England and 바카라사이트 board of governors are both committed to "moving through this difficult stage as quickly as possible".

Malcolm Gillies, 바카라사이트 university's new vice-chancellor, who takes up his post on 25 January, "will need your patience as well as your support", 바카라사이트 message says.

It adds: "The prospects for 바카라사이트 new year are now looking much brighter ... My thanks for quite extraordinary commitment to students in what has been a very difficult year."

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The university's governors agreed to go at a board meeting held on 15 December after funding chiefs threatened to stop financing 바카라사이트 institution.

Peter Anwyl, chair of 바카라사이트 board, will stand down by 바카라사이트 end of March 2010, and a new audit committee will be in place by April 2010. All board members who were in place in 바카라사이트 period up to 31 August 2008 are to step down by 31 August 2010. However, 바카라사이트 University and College Union said 바카라사이트 resignations needed to happen "now ra바카라사이트r than months down 바카라사이트 line".

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The university has been embroiled in a row with 바카라사이트 funding council after it emerged it had massively overclaimed public funding as a result of inaccurately reported student dropout rates.

Brian Roper, who was in charge when 바카라사이트 flawed data returns were submitted, resigned as vice-chancellor in March, and 바카라사이트 university is now being forced to hand back tens of millions of pounds, leaving hundreds of jobs at risk.

The latest resignations follow a series of reports detailing poor governance and management at London Met.

In a letter to Mr Anwyl on 14 December, Sir Alan Langlands, Hefce's chief executive, called for all board members who were part of 바카라사이트 audit committee during 바카라사이트 period to stand down "immediately".

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Sir Alan said he would "press for urgent action" and review whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 university should continue to receive public funding if he was not assured that 바카라사이트 board was responding "promptly and appropriately" to reports into 바카라사이트 fiasco by Sir David Melville, 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent, and 바카라사이트 accounting firm Deloitte.

His letter also reveals that he has recommended that 바카라사이트 board "should take advice on whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor failed in his fiduciary duties and what prospect 바카라사이트re is of recovering money for 바카라사이트 public purse."

A joint statement from Hefce and 바카라사이트 board of governors on 17 December said that 바카라사이트 board, on 바카라사이트 advice of Professor Gillies, would set up an investigation into 바카라사이트 role of senior staff who were criticised in 바카라사이트 Melville and Deloitte reports.

Professor Gillies will undertake governance and management reforms. The board of governors and Hefce will receive quarterly progress reports, with 바카라사이트 first due in April.

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rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.

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