Derby and Israel

You have twice referred to me personally in your "Whistleblowers" column (THES, March 17 and 24) in relation to events purported to have occurred in October 1997. The references were based on an assertion that I was not involved in the setting-up of the University of Derby's franchise operations in Israel.

The facts are these: * I was first involved in planned developments in Israel in June 1996, some five months before the institutional audit and franchise approval that authorised the commencement of the programmes

* My office organised the November 1996 audit and approval event in accordance with published university procedures

* I was one of a number of senior staff members who visited Israel in 1996 and early 1997 to evaluate staff and facilities

* I chaired an approval panel in June 1997 in accordance with university procedures

* Matters that I subsequently raised in October 1997 concerning the BA (Hons) management study were formally and properly addressed by the university.

All these details are a matter of record and occurred within a process thoroughly audited by the Quality Assurance Agency in 1998.

It is therefore wrong to state as the foundation of your articles that I was made aware of the franchise deal only in October 1997 and that it was set up without my knowledge.

Your references to my non-involvement in the initial stages of the project are totally unfounded.

Allan Lloyd

Dean of quality development University of Derby