University 'out of debt' after upheaval at the top

LEEDS Metropolitan University has come out of debt and is well placed to face the “very difficult” times ahead for the higher education sector, according to its newly appointed chairman.

Lord Woolmer of Leeds has been confirmed as the new chairman of the board of governors at the university which has seen major changes in its leadership this year.

Leeds Met has already appointed Prof Susan Price as vice chancellor and created three new deputy vice chancellors posts focusing on research and enterprise, strategic development and student experience.

Speaking on his first day in the job as chairman of governors, Lord Woolmer told the Yorkshire Post the university was “no longer in the red” and had a strong plan in place to deliver quality education in the years ahead.

He replaces Ninian Watt who stood down this year following 18 months of turmoil at the institution surrounding the resignation of its former vice chancellor Prof Simon Lee.

Prof Lee left amid allegations of bullying, which he denied, and his departure was followed by criticism that the university’s governors had failed to control an extravagant spending spree during his tenure.

The Leeds Met branch of the University and College Union was considering a vote of no confidence before Mr Watt announced his intention to step down.

Lord Woolmer said yesterday it was “his job to look forward not back” as he set out his vision for the university in the future.

However, he admitted that all universities faced difficult times ahead with the autumn Comprehensive Spending Review expected to announce cuts in higher education funding while the Browne Review is set to make recommendations on how universities are financed with reports that students could be charged up to 10,000 a year.

Last year Leeds Met announced it needed to cut jobs in order to bring its projected losses in the 2009-10 academic year down from 7m to 3m. It also emerged that the decision to charge the lowest tuition fees in the country had cost the institution 10m in lost revenue.

Under Prof Lee, the university had invested heavily in sporting partnerships including the creation of new facilities at the Headingley cricket and rugby grounds and becoming the majority owner of the Leeds’ rugby union club – which will ultimately cost Leeds Met 10m after it cancelled the deal.

However, Lord Woolmer said a great deal of work had been done to move the university forward in the past year.

He said: “The governors have reported that the university ended July out of the red and in the black with us making a small surplus with us forecast to do better still in future.”

Lord Woolmer said Leeds Met had a vital role to play in the city region and should aim to become one of the great metropolitan universities of Europe.

He said: “I am pleased and honoured to have been appointed chairman.

“Leeds Metropolitan University provides important higher education opportunities and wider access to students from our region, nationally and internationally.

“The recently appointed vice chancellor, Prof Susan Price, is already providing clear leadership in strengthening the university, as evidenced by improved financial performance and student satisfaction rates.

“These are challenging times for all universities and there is still much to do but I sense genuine commitment throughout the university to meet the challenges ahead and to strive for excellence in all it does.”

A Leeds Metropolitan University spokeswoman said: “We are delighted that Lord Woolmer has been recommended as our new chairman of the board of governors. He has a strong background both in educational and political spheres and he brings a great deal of experience.

“Looking forward, it is an exciting time. We have a new strategic plan which is our route map for the next five years and Lord Woolmer will be critical in assisting our vice chancellor to ensure the delivery of our objectives which include ensuring quality, relevance and sustainability.”