Funding chiefs have ordered improvements to financial controls at Middlesex University, following more than a year of investigations by The THES . Quality control and employment problems were also identified after a special report by the Higher Education Funding Council.
Hefce's report into difficulties at the university's business school is confidential. But The THES has seen an account of Hefce's findings by the National Audit Office, which will supervise the implementation of the recommendations.
Hefce - which asked Middlesex to respond to the issues rather than initiating an investigation - found no evidence of improper use of public funds. But it found a number of control weaknesses and "inefficiencies" and made recommendations for improvements. "Problems were (also) found relating to academic quality and employment," the NAO said.
The Hefce report has confirmed problems in the four key areas identified in The THES investigations:
- In October 1999, The THES reported that students who had failed masters degrees at the business school had been offered alternative masters degrees with lower pass marks. The university's then quality chief had said that the dual standards were "indefensible". The NAO this week confirmed: "There were inconsistencies in the standards applied to the masters degree in the business school, which have now been resolved."
- In October 2000, The THES reported that Middlesex had appeared to breach Hefce rules when it imposed a gagging clause on former business school dean David Kirby, who was forced to take a paid "sabbatical" after he had suggested external help for his investigation into alleged mismanagement. The NAO has now confirmed that Hefce has demanded that his gagging clause be removed.
- In December 1999, The THES reported on the case of "Professor X", a manager who was sacked - in breach of the university's procedures - for alleged bullying after she raised concerns about quality and accountability. The NAO has thanked "Professor X" and said that improvements demanded of Middlesex "would not have occurred without your input".
- In October 1999, The THES reported that the university bent its own quality assurance rules governing the accreditation of prior learning to set up a deal to offer degrees to part-qualified professional accounting technicians. For £1,500, the students had to complete just 60 units of "credit" to obtain the 360-unit degree. The university employed an outside agency to administer the course, which was run through a post office box.
The NAO said: "The university did have difficulties with aspects of its BA accounting course, including under-recruitment against expectations." But internal procedures were "properly exercised" as the academic board had approved a special exception to the usual quality control rules. The use of the contractor and the PO Box was "unusual, but did not pose risks for the university", the NAO said.
- The NAO also said "there were some problems over financial control and debt collection. Hefce does make a couple of recommendations regarding financial control and internal audit reports on debt management, and these have been accepted by the university."
In July last year, Middlesex issued a statement claiming that Hefce had concluded its investigations and "has made clear to the university that it has no intention of pursuing further any of the issues it asked the university to comment upon". In the same month, the business school's dean, Dennis Parker, told staff that Hefce concluded after the investigations "that they are satisfied with management with the university and the school".
But, the NAO said Hefce's report was completed only last week, delayed after Middlesex raised objections to its findings. A spokeswoman said Middlesex would not comment on the NAO's account as it had not seen it.
- Want to blow the whistle? Contact Phil Baty on 020 7782 3298 or email him .