Vice-chancellor suspended as investigation continues

A LEADING university vice-chancellor and three employees have been suspended during an investigation.

Prof Richard B Davies has held the top role at Swansea University since 2003, but an email sent to staff yesterday confirmed that he had been suspended.

The 72-year-old earns £252,000 a year and had announced his intention to retire at the end of the current academic year. It is not yet known what the investigation is looking into, but enquiries have not been completed.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales said: “We can confirm that we are currently engaging with Swansea University in our role as Wales’s higher education regulator, but we cannot discuss any further details about the matter at this time.”

As part of the same investigation, the dean of the school of management, Prof Marc Clement, has also been suspended, as have two other members of staff from the school.

A university insider said: “This came as a complete and utter shock. I have no idea what has happened.”

In an email, staff were told by Andrew Rhodes, the university registrar, that the matter did not concern “the academic performance of the university or its financial wellbeing”.

He added: “I would like to reassure you that the senior management team, heads of college, professional services directors of the university and myself are all working closely together to make sure the university continues to thrive and to conclude this very difficult matter.”

A university spokesman said: “We can confirm that the vice-chancellor Prof Richard B Davies and Prof Marc Clement have been suspended, pending the outcome of on an internal investigation.

“We are not making any further comment at this stage.”