Payback time for London Metropolitan University

Published: 16 April 2010
by TOM FOOT

HOLLOWAY-based London Metropolitan University will begin paying back in September the £36.5million owed following last year’s financial scandal, writes Tom Foot.

Vice-chancellor Professor Malcolm Gillies, who replaced Brian Roper in January, said the university would start repayments of £10million a year from next academic year.

The entire board of governors announced they were stepping down in December following two independent external reports which revealed widespread misreporting of student drop-out rates over three years. 

Two senior staff members still face an internal investigation.

London Met has already made 150 staff redundant. Entire departments have been shut, sparking a series of staff strikes and demonstrations by students.

A spokesman for University and College Union said: “With the new vice-chancellor coming in, there are a lot of things to sort out and our talks are ongoing.”