London Metropolitan students call for the university board to go

STUDENTS and staff at London Metropolitan University will be calling for their governors to quit today as fears were raised over the future of the university. The board of governors at London s largest university will be meeting for the first time this

STUDENTS and staff at London Metropolitan University will be calling for their governors to quit today as fears were raised over the future of the university.

The board of governors at London's largest university will be meeting for the first time this afternoon since its members were told by The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to "consider their position".

They were given the warning after an enquiry by Sir David Melville accused them of claiming funding for thousands of non-existent students.

And protestors are planning to gather outside the meeting in the Moorgate Building in the City to urge them to step down.

The University and College Union (UCU) claim the university may not receive essential funding from HEFCE if it does not follow the funding council's instructions.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "Nobody can have confidence in the university until there has been a proper shake up at the top and those behind the current shambles have gone.

"Staff and student are not at fault for the mess the university is in, yet they continue to suffer."

A university spokeswoman said earlier this month, the board would be responding to the Melville report after its meeting.