The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Renewed calls for RGU inquiry Scrutiny: Demand grows for independent investigation into university
Timeline
Demands were growing last night for an independent inquiry into the running of Robert Gordon University as a second major trade union said staff were “disillusioned and angry”.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland’s largest teaching union, said its members at RGU had voted unanimously to call for a special audit to be carried out at the Aberdeenbased institution.
It said staff remained “deeply concerned with recent events” and that it was “still unclear as to what happened during the recent investigation” into the business interests of outgoing principal Ferdinand von Prondzynski.
The intervention by the EIS, which follows a similar call from the University and College Union (UCU) Scotland last week, was made as it emerged that RGU’s board had agreed to review its appointment procedures just weeks before Professor John Harper was controversially named as the new principal.
A minute of a special board meeting on July 16 shows members agreed not to punish Prof von Prondzynski, despite an investigation finding he had breached the conflict of interest policy by failing to declare he and a recently recruited vice-principal were co-directors of a firm that owned a £12 million castle.
The minute also revealed the board had agreed RGU’s recruitment and whistleblowing policies “should be reviewed in the light of recent experience to see if there were any lessons that could be learned”.
During the following week, after The Press and Journal reported a viceprincipal had resigned in protest at the failure to sanction Prof von Prondzynski, another special board meeting was called to agree a “crisis management plan”.
Last night, RGU would not disclose who attended the meeting or the detail of the discussion, but two weeks after the crisis meeting it was announced that Prof von Prondzynski had quit and Prof Harper would be replacing him.
The appointment sparked further accusations of cronyism and claims the board had failed to follow good governance procedures, despite the recruitment review that was agreed last month.
Responding to the audit call made by the EIS, RGU Jeremy Corbyn will meet asylum seekers facing eviction in Glasgow as he continues a four-day visit to Scotland.
The UK Labour leader will call for asylum and refugee accommodation to be taken out of the hands of private companies and transferred to public bodies.
Private provider Serco announced a rolling lock change eviction process for those not given refugee status in Glasgow last month.
The company, contracted by the Home Office, says it is paying accommodation for 330 asylum seekers in board vice-chairman David Strachan said: “The board has a responsibility to act, first and foremost, in the best interests of the university, its staff and students and its reputation.
“In doing so we must follow the university’s policies and procedures and fulfil our governance and legal obligations.
“Within this context, the board followed due process the city who have been denied the right to remain in the UK.
It has announced a pause on the plans in the face of legal challenges against the evictions at the Court of Session and Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Mr Corbyn will be joined by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to meet in our investigation into the alleged conflict of interest and the appointment of a new principal on a two-year, fixed-term contract.
“The latter is the best solution to providing shortto medium-term stability and continuity following an exceptional set of circumstances.”
He said the board “stands by” the outcome of the investigation. some of those the evictions.
Speaking ahead of the visit, he said they had been treated “appallingly” by Serco and the Home Office.
“This is not how our country should treat people seeking help,” he said.
“It is time for the Tories to end the failed privatisation affected by
– The Press and Journal reveals that Robert Gordon University investigating a complaint about the appointment of the principal’s business partner to a top job. – Special RGU board meeting convened to discuss probe finding that principal Ferdinand von Prondzynski breached the university’s conflict of interest policy but that it was a “genuine omission or oversight”. Members agree to review appointment procedure and whistleblowing policy. – The P&J reveals that RGU has been plunged into turmoil after vice-principal Paul Hagan quit in protest at “extraordinary” failure to punish Prof von Prondzynski. – Special RGU board meeting convened to discuss a “crisis management plan pertaining to the follow-on issues surrounding the public interest disclosure investigation”. is – RGU announces that Prof von Prondzynski is stepping down and will be replaced by deputy principal Professor John Harper. The University and College Union claims the appointment breaches good governance codes and smacks of “jobs for the boys”.
agenda that is putting the public in danger. Time and again private profit is put ahead of the public interest. This has to end.”
Mr Corbyn said Labour would also “end the ugly and discredited system of private firms running immigration detention centres”.
He added: “Asylum seekers who have fled horrific conflict and violence, and have since made the UK their home, deserve our help and support, not persecution from profiteering private companies.
“I want to pay tribute to those who have responded and stood up to help these people. It is a moving example of solidarity and collective action.”