London Metropolitan University
Encyclopedia
London Metropolitan University (London Met), located in London
, England
, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London
(est.1896) and the London Guildhall University
(est.1848). The University has campuses in the City of London
and in the London Borough of Islington
.
The University operates its own archives, libraries and museum. The Women's Library
houses the archives of the Fawcett Society
, and other material on the history of feminism
. The other collections are the TUC Library, the Irish Studies Collection and The Frederick Parker Collection. In 2011, following a review of its undergraduate education provision which revealed that 80% of its students were on just 80 courses, London Met announced it would be slimming down its course offering.
with the University of North London
. The change of name of the merged University was approved by the Privy Council. In October 2006, the University opened a new Science Centre, part of a £30m investment in its science department at the North campus close to Holloway Road
in North London
, the facility includes a "Super Lab" claimed to be one of Europe's most advanced science teaching facilities with 280 workstations equipped with digital audio visual interactive equipment.
The President Emeritus, who holds the academic title of Professor, is Sir Roderick Floud
.
, called upon the clergy
to establish evening classes to improve the moral, intellectual and spiritual condition of young men in London. In response, the bishop Charles Mackenzie, who instituted the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men in Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate, London, with student fees at one shilling per session. Subjects on the original curriculum included Greek, Latin, Hebrew, English, History, Mathematics, Drawing and Natural Philosophy. This fledgling college came under royal patronage following the visit of Prince Albert to the classes in 1851. In 1860 the classes moved to Sussex Hall, the former Livery Hall of the Bricklayers' Company, in Leadenhall Street. By this time, some 800 students were enrolled annually.
In 1861 the classes were reconstituted and named the City of London College. Over the next twenty years, the College was one of the pioneers in the introduction of commercial and technical subjects. The college built new premises in White Street at a cost of £16,000 (contributions were received from Queen Victoria
and the Prince of Wales
) and were opened in 1881. In 1891 the college joined Birkbeck Institute
and the Northampton Institute
to form the City Polytechnic by a Charity Commissioners' scheme to facilitate funding for these institutions by the City Parochial Foundation, and to enable the three institutions to work cooperatively. However this attempted federation did not function in practice, as each institution continued to operate more or less independently. The City Polytechnic concept was dissolved in 1906 and the City of London College came under the supervision of London County Council
.
In December 1940 the college's building was destroyed by a German air raid. City of London College subsequently moved into premises at 84 Moorgate
in 1944. In 1948, the City of London College celebrated its centenary with a service of thanksgiving addressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul's Cathedral
. In 1970 the college merged with Sir John Cass College to form the City of London Polytechnic. From 1992 to July 2002, the institution was known as London Guildhall University.
, London Metropolitan University became the largest unitary university in Greater London
.
, near Aldgate East, Tower Hill
and Liverpool Street
tube
stations.
There are buildings located at Minories, Jewry Street,Central House, Moorgate, Whitechapel High Street, Calcutta House, Commercial Road and Goulston Street.
There is a gymnasium for the use of staff and students at the Whitechapel High St. building, although there are also several private gymnasiums nearby.
It is at the intersection of the City of London financial district and the old East end (Jack the Ripper tours frequently pass by the University's buildings). Spitalfields market is close by, offering a variety of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, as well as market stalls.
on Holloway Road
, near Holloway Road
and Highbury & Islington
tube stations.
The Campus began life in 1896 as the Northern Polytechnic Institute. By 1900, student numbers had doubled and later the Institute's evening degrees were recognised by the University of London
.
In the early 1970s, the Northern Polytechnic merged with the North Western Polytechnic, which was established in 1929, to become the Polytechnic of North London. In 1992 the Polytechnic became the University of North London.
, serving more than 28,525 students and with buildings spread throughout the centre of London. The University offers 485 degree
courses and has the largest choice of courses in London. The University has around 7,000 overseas students from more than 155 different countries. In 2005/06, London Metropolitan University was ranked third most popular university in United Kingdom for international students
, believing that the UK Government should be the formal assessor of universities, rather than (private) newspapers. The new management reversed this policy, appearing in the 2011 national rankings (published in 2010) which placed London Metropolitan at 115th (Times University Guide) and 118th (Guardian University Guide) place.
In the 2006 Institutional Audit, the Quality Assurance Agency expressed "broad confidence" in the soundness of the University's management of the quality of its academic programmes and the academic standards of its awards.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, London Metropolitan was ranked equal 107th out of 132 institutions by the Times Higher Education's RAE league table.
The Faculty of LGIR sponsors the London Metropolitan Law Society and has two student-led publications namely Dictum and Metlawyer.
, Tennis
and Basketball
.
The University also offers postgraduate scholarships, a range of full tuition scholarships, including some scholarships with free accommodation.
London Metropolitan University offers scholarships in conjunction with:
The Rocket is renowned for its now defunct Wednesday club night, which was once voted best student night out in London by Time Out. The Hub bar holds regular university and external events.
Both the Rocket and Hub are used by club and live music promoters for public events. Past performances include Norman Jay, Mary Ann Hobbs, 2manydjs, Justice and Foreign Beggars with Beardyman.
with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, for "promoting peace globally". This move caused controversy among the Chinese public and the overseas Chinese
community, who view the Dalai Lama as partly responsible for the 2008 unrest in Tibet
. As a result, Chinese migration agents had been reported to "boycott" London Metropolitan University in advising clients who wish to study in the UK. The university's Vice Chancellor, Brian Roper issued an apology letter to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via embassy officials in July. In an interview with the Global Times
, a worker at a Chinese study abroad
agency suggested that the University could repair the offence of the honors by refusing speaking platforms to Tibetan independence groups, such as the University's own "Free Tibet Society".
for several years and, consequently, the Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE) was proposing to claw back at least £15 million for the overpayment in 2008-9.
News of the crisis led to a demonstration of staff and students outside the universities Tower Building in January 2009. They were calling for the vice-chancellor
to be sacked and standing against possible job cuts.
In February 2009 the figure of overpayment was revised to £56 million by HEFCE, who were seeking to recover the money. Local newspaper the Islington Gazette
reported on the high stress levels among staff, including those on long-term sick leave. Alan Pike, a UNISON
official, was quoted as saying "In the past two months, we have had about 20 support staff come to us with stress."
On 19 March 2009, in response to the crisis, vice-chancellor Brian Roper
resigned his position with immediate effect but continued to receive his salary until December 2009. Controversially, he received a series of bonuses during the period when the university was returning inaccurate data to HEFCE.
On 29 April 2009, the University and College Union
(UCU) announced that members at London Metropolitan University voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action and 'action short of a strike' against the loss of at least 550 jobs.
In May 2009 Alfred Morris
, former vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England
and University of Wales, Lampeter
, was appointed interim vice-chancellor.
The government announced in May 2009 that there would be an independent inquiry, exploring the possibility that HEFCE had colluded with London Met by failing to query implausibly low drop-out rates. It concluded in November 2009 and was reported to cast responsibility to Brian Roper, other senior administrators, and the Board of Governors. Following conclusion of the report, the chair of HEFCE called on "senior staff" and the entire Board of Governors to resign, noting that HEFCE was not convinced that the university's management could effectively safeguard public funds. After the deadline indicated by HEFCE chief executive Alan Langlands had passed, there were ruminations among staff and ministers that HEFCE could withdraw funding, effectively forcing the university to close.
A report commissioned by the university, published in November 2009, found that Roper had “the major responsibility and culpability” for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive were aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student dropouts – rather than the funding council’s – since 2003, but took no action. The university’s board of governors
and audit committee
had an oversight role, which made them ultimately “accountable for a financial failure of this magnitude” and meant that they “must take overall responsibility”.
There will be a transition to this new course offering in 2011/12 and this has led to applicants for some courses being contacted and offered alternative programmes.
centres around a reunion between two women who had flatshared six years earlier as students: it is mentioned in passing that they were students at the Polytechnic of North London.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
(est.1896) and the London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
(est.1848). The University has campuses in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and in the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
.
The University operates its own archives, libraries and museum. The Women's Library
The Women's Library (London)
The Women's Library in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets is Britain's main library and museum resource on women and the women's movement, especially concentrating on Britain in the 19th and 20th centuries.The Library has over 60,000 books and pamphlets...
houses the archives of the Fawcett Society
Fawcett Society
The Fawcett Society is an organisation in the United Kingdom which campaigns for women's rights. The organisation's roots date back to 1866 when Millicent Garrett Fawcett dedicated her life to the peaceful campaign for women's suffrage....
, and other material on the history of feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. The other collections are the TUC Library, the Irish Studies Collection and The Frederick Parker Collection. In 2011, following a review of its undergraduate education provision which revealed that 80% of its students were on just 80 courses, London Met announced it would be slimming down its course offering.
History
London Metropolitan University was formed on 1 August 2002 by the merger of London Guildhall UniversityLondon Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
with the University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
. The change of name of the merged University was approved by the Privy Council. In October 2006, the University opened a new Science Centre, part of a £30m investment in its science department at the North campus close to Holloway Road
Holloway Road
Holloway Road is a road in London. It is one of the main shopping streets in North London, and carries the A1 road as it passes through Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington...
in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, the facility includes a "Super Lab" claimed to be one of Europe's most advanced science teaching facilities with 280 workstations equipped with digital audio visual interactive equipment.
The President Emeritus, who holds the academic title of Professor, is Sir Roderick Floud
Roderick Floud
Sir Roderick Castle Floud FBA is an economic historian and is currently the Provost of Gresham College. He is the son of Bernard Floud, M.P.-Career:...
.
London Guildhall University
In 1848 Charles Blomfield, the Bishop of LondonBishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, called upon the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
to establish evening classes to improve the moral, intellectual and spiritual condition of young men in London. In response, the bishop Charles Mackenzie, who instituted the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men in Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate, London, with student fees at one shilling per session. Subjects on the original curriculum included Greek, Latin, Hebrew, English, History, Mathematics, Drawing and Natural Philosophy. This fledgling college came under royal patronage following the visit of Prince Albert to the classes in 1851. In 1860 the classes moved to Sussex Hall, the former Livery Hall of the Bricklayers' Company, in Leadenhall Street. By this time, some 800 students were enrolled annually.
In 1861 the classes were reconstituted and named the City of London College. Over the next twenty years, the College was one of the pioneers in the introduction of commercial and technical subjects. The college built new premises in White Street at a cost of £16,000 (contributions were received from Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
and the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
) and were opened in 1881. In 1891 the college joined Birkbeck Institute
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
and the Northampton Institute
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
to form the City Polytechnic by a Charity Commissioners' scheme to facilitate funding for these institutions by the City Parochial Foundation, and to enable the three institutions to work cooperatively. However this attempted federation did not function in practice, as each institution continued to operate more or less independently. The City Polytechnic concept was dissolved in 1906 and the City of London College came under the supervision of London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
.
In December 1940 the college's building was destroyed by a German air raid. City of London College subsequently moved into premises at 84 Moorgate
Moorgate
Moorgate was a postern in the London Wall originally built by the Romans. It was turned into a gate in the 15th century. Though the gate was demolished in 1762, the name survives as a major street in the City of London...
in 1944. In 1948, the City of London College celebrated its centenary with a service of thanksgiving addressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. In 1970 the college merged with Sir John Cass College to form the City of London Polytechnic. From 1992 to July 2002, the institution was known as London Guildhall University.
University of North London
Founded as the Northern Polytechnic Institute in 1896, it merged in 1971 with the North Western Polytechnic which was established in 1929, to become the Polytechnic of North London. Until the passing of the Education Reform Act 1988, the Polytechnic was under the control of the Inner London Education Authority — part of the then Greater London Council and awarded the degrees of the former Council for National Academic Awards. Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the institution, a pioneer of widening participation and access to higher education, was granted University status and the right to award its own degrees. Following the merger with London Guildhall UniversityLondon Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
, London Metropolitan University became the largest unitary university in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
.
City campus
The City campus is the site of the former London Guildhall UniversityLondon Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
, near Aldgate East, Tower Hill
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
and Liverpool Street
Liverpool Street station
Liverpool Street railway station, also known as London Liverpool Street or simply Liverpool Street, is both a central London railway terminus and a connected London Underground station in the north-eastern corner of the City of London, England...
tube
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
stations.
There are buildings located at Minories, Jewry Street,Central House, Moorgate, Whitechapel High Street, Calcutta House, Commercial Road and Goulston Street.
There is a gymnasium for the use of staff and students at the Whitechapel High St. building, although there are also several private gymnasiums nearby.
It is at the intersection of the City of London financial district and the old East end (Jack the Ripper tours frequently pass by the University's buildings). Spitalfields market is close by, offering a variety of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, as well as market stalls.
North campus
The North campus is the site of the former University of North LondonUniversity of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
on Holloway Road
Holloway Road
Holloway Road is a road in London. It is one of the main shopping streets in North London, and carries the A1 road as it passes through Holloway, in the London Borough of Islington...
, near Holloway Road
Holloway Road tube station
Holloway Road is a station on the London Underground. It is on the Piccadilly Line between Caledonian Road and Arsenal stations, and in Travelcard Zone 2. The station opened on 15 December 1906....
and Highbury & Islington
Highbury & Islington station
Highbury & Islington station is a London Underground and National Rail station in the London Borough of Islington in north London. It is served by the Victoria line, London Overground's East and North London Lines and First Capital Connect's Northern City Line....
tube stations.
The Campus began life in 1896 as the Northern Polytechnic Institute. By 1900, student numbers had doubled and later the Institute's evening degrees were recognised by the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.
In the early 1970s, the Northern Polytechnic merged with the North Western Polytechnic, which was established in 1929, to become the Polytechnic of North London. In 1992 the Polytechnic became the University of North London.
Profile
London Metropolitan University is the largest "single university" in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, serving more than 28,525 students and with buildings spread throughout the centre of London. The University offers 485 degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
courses and has the largest choice of courses in London. The University has around 7,000 overseas students from more than 155 different countries. In 2005/06, London Metropolitan University was ranked third most popular university in United Kingdom for international students
Academic reputation
In the past, London Metropolitan refused to participate in newspaper league tablesLeague tables of British universities
Rankings of universities in the United Kingdom are published annually by The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times and The Times...
, believing that the UK Government should be the formal assessor of universities, rather than (private) newspapers. The new management reversed this policy, appearing in the 2011 national rankings (published in 2010) which placed London Metropolitan at 115th (Times University Guide) and 118th (Guardian University Guide) place.
In the 2006 Institutional Audit, the Quality Assurance Agency expressed "broad confidence" in the soundness of the University's management of the quality of its academic programmes and the academic standards of its awards.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, London Metropolitan was ranked equal 107th out of 132 institutions by the Times Higher Education's RAE league table.
Academic departments
London Metropolitan University currently consists of the following faculties and schools:- Faculty of Architecture and Spatial Design
- Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Media and Design
- London Metropolitan Polymer Centre
- London Metropolitan Business School
- Faculty of Computing
- Faculty of Life Sciences
- School of Psychology
- School of Human Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- School of Applied Social Sciences
- School of Humanities, Arts and Languages
- School of Education
- Faculty of Law, Governance and International Relations
The Faculty of LGIR sponsors the London Metropolitan Law Society and has two student-led publications namely Dictum and Metlawyer.
Scholarships
Every year London Metropolitan University invests over £700,000 in its scholarship programme to help academically excellent students as well as students with outstanding achievements in various sports disciplines fund their education. London Metropolitan University offers a Merit Scholarship Programme and gives £1000 for all international students who achieve 'A' grades marks whilst studying any bachelor degree course at the University. London Metropolitan University also offers some scholarships in sports, such as HockeyHockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
, Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
The University also offers postgraduate scholarships, a range of full tuition scholarships, including some scholarships with free accommodation.
London Metropolitan University offers scholarships in conjunction with:
- BBC World ServiceBBC World ServiceThe BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
- International Student House
- Canon Collins Trust
- Mahatma Gandhi FoundationMahatma Gandhi FoundationMahatma Gandhi Foundation is located in Mumbai, Republic of India and is headed by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of ‘Bapu’ Mahatma Gandhi...
- Murtala Mohammad
- Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
Study abroad programmes
The London Metropolitan University has several student exchange programmes with academic institutions in the US and Europe, with financial support for those who participate through the Erasmus program.Students' Union
London Metropolitan University Students' Union ("MetSU") is affiliated to the National Union of Students. The day to day running of the Union is organised by a team of officers who together make up the Executive Committee. A Student Council sets policy and can set the direction that the Executive take. The University directly manages two award-winning social facilities:The Rocket complex and courtyard located on Holloway Road at North campus; and Hub Bar located on Goulston Street at City campus.The Rocket is renowned for its now defunct Wednesday club night, which was once voted best student night out in London by Time Out. The Hub bar holds regular university and external events.
Both the Rocket and Hub are used by club and live music promoters for public events. Past performances include Norman Jay, Mary Ann Hobbs, 2manydjs, Justice and Foreign Beggars with Beardyman.
Governance
The university's operations are overseen by a board of governors comprising external members and senior administrative and academic staff.Controversy
In May 2008, London Metropolitan University presented the 14th Dalai Lama14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy, for "promoting peace globally". This move caused controversy among the Chinese public and the overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
community, who view the Dalai Lama as partly responsible for the 2008 unrest in Tibet
2008 Tibetan unrest
The 2008 Tibetan unrest, also known from its Chinese name as the 3•14 Riots, was a series of riots, protests, and demonstrations that started in Tibetan regional capital of Lhasa and spread to other Tibetan areas and a number of monasteries including outside the Tibet Autonomous Region...
. As a result, Chinese migration agents had been reported to "boycott" London Metropolitan University in advising clients who wish to study in the UK. The university's Vice Chancellor, Brian Roper issued an apology letter to the Chinese Foreign Ministry via embassy officials in July. In an interview with the Global Times
Global Times
The Global Times is a daily Chinese tabloid under the auspices of the official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, focusing on international issues...
, a worker at a Chinese study abroad
Study abroad
Studying abroad is the act of a student pursuing educational opportunities in a country other than one's own. This can include primary, secondary and post-secondary students...
agency suggested that the University could repair the offence of the honors by refusing speaking platforms to Tibetan independence groups, such as the University's own "Free Tibet Society".
Student number controversy
In July 2008 it was reported that a financial crisis was looming for the university. London Met had been misreporting data on student drop-outsDropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
for several years and, consequently, the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
(HEFCE) was proposing to claw back at least £15 million for the overpayment in 2008-9.
News of the crisis led to a demonstration of staff and students outside the universities Tower Building in January 2009. They were calling for the vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
to be sacked and standing against possible job cuts.
In February 2009 the figure of overpayment was revised to £56 million by HEFCE, who were seeking to recover the money. Local newspaper the Islington Gazette
Islington gazette
The Islington Gazette is a weekly paid-for newspaper covering news relating to the borough of Islington in north London, UK. There are two editions, the Islington Gazette and the Islington Gazette EC1 that covers the south of the borough which used to be known as the borough of Finsbury...
reported on the high stress levels among staff, including those on long-term sick leave. Alan Pike, a UNISON
UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom with over 1.3 million members.The union was formed in 1993 when three public sector trade unions, the National and Local Government Officers Association , the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service...
official, was quoted as saying "In the past two months, we have had about 20 support staff come to us with stress."
On 19 March 2009, in response to the crisis, vice-chancellor Brian Roper
Brian Roper (academic)
Brian Roper is a British economist and former vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan University.-Career:Roper was born and raised in southeast London, and studied economics at the University of Wales...
resigned his position with immediate effect but continued to receive his salary until December 2009. Controversially, he received a series of bonuses during the period when the university was returning inaccurate data to HEFCE.
On 29 April 2009, the University and College Union
University and College Union
The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....
(UCU) announced that members at London Metropolitan University voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action and 'action short of a strike' against the loss of at least 550 jobs.
In May 2009 Alfred Morris
Alfred Morris (academic)
Alfred Cosier Morris CBE DL is a British academic. He was the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England in Bristol from 1992 to 2005 and before that was Director of its predecessor, Bristol Polytechnic from 1986....
, former vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
and University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
, was appointed interim vice-chancellor.
The government announced in May 2009 that there would be an independent inquiry, exploring the possibility that HEFCE had colluded with London Met by failing to query implausibly low drop-out rates. It concluded in November 2009 and was reported to cast responsibility to Brian Roper, other senior administrators, and the Board of Governors. Following conclusion of the report, the chair of HEFCE called on "senior staff" and the entire Board of Governors to resign, noting that HEFCE was not convinced that the university's management could effectively safeguard public funds. After the deadline indicated by HEFCE chief executive Alan Langlands had passed, there were ruminations among staff and ministers that HEFCE could withdraw funding, effectively forcing the university to close.
A report commissioned by the university, published in November 2009, found that Roper had “the major responsibility and culpability” for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive were aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student dropouts – rather than the funding council’s – since 2003, but took no action. The university’s board of governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
and audit committee
Audit committee
In a U.S. publicly-traded company, an audit committee is an operating committee of the Board of Directors charged with oversight of financial reporting and disclosure. Committee members are drawn from members of the company's board of directors, with a Chairperson selected from among the committee...
had an oversight role, which made them ultimately “accountable for a financial failure of this magnitude” and meant that they “must take overall responsibility”.
2011 announcement of course closures and move to year long modules
In early 2011, London Metropolitan University announced an overhaul of undergraduate education for students entering courses in 2012. This included a reduction in the number of courses from 557 to 160. The announcement also signalled a move from semester-long to year-long modules, and thirty weeks of teaching, a gain of six weeks on the current average. The university argues that the longer learning time, will increase the opportunity for development and guidance before students move to final examinations.There will be a transition to this new course offering in 2011/12 and this has led to applicants for some courses being contacted and offered alternative programmes.
International offices
The University maintains several offices outside the United Kingdom.| City | Country |
|---|---|
| Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... |
Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south... |
| Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... |
Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
| Beijing Beijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... |
China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
| Delhi Delhi Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census... and Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
| Lagos Lagos Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa... |
Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... |
| Lahore Lahore Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a... and Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million... |
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan... |
| Kathmandu | Nepal Nepal Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India... |
London Metropolitan University in popular culture
The plot of the 1997 Mike Leigh film Career GirlsCareer Girls
Career Girls is a 1997 film by Mike Leigh which tells the story of two women, who reunite after six years apart. The film stars Katrin Cartlidge and Lynda Steadman...
centres around a reunion between two women who had flatshared six years earlier as students: it is mentioned in passing that they were students at the Polytechnic of North London.
Notable alumni
- Adel Al-MouwdahAdel MouwdaSheikh Adel Al Mouwda was the second deputy chairman of Bahrain's parliament of 2002, the Chamber of Deputies, and the former leader of salafist party, Asalah...
, Deputy Speaker of BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
's first elected parliamentCouncil of Representatives of BahrainThe Council of Representatives , sometimes translated as the "Chamber of Deputies", is the name given to the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, the main legislative body of Bahrain....
and president of Salafist party, Asalah - Zoë BallZoë BallZoë Louise Ball is an English television and radio personality, most famous for becoming the first female host of the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show and for her earlier work presenting the 1990s children's show, Live & Kicking.-TV career:The daughter of the children's TV presenter Johnny Ball and his...
, TV and radio presenter - Lord BilimoriaKaran Bilimoria, Baron BilimoriaKaran Faridoon Bilimoria, Baron Bilimoria CBE is an entrepreneur and a life peer. He is best known as one of the two founders and chairman of Cobra Beer.-Early life:Bilimoria was born in Hyderabad, India of Parsi Zoroastrian descent....
, founder and chief executive of Cobra BeerCobra BeerCobra Beers main product is an extra-smooth premium beer with an alcohol strength of 5% volume. The beer was founded in 1989 by Karan Bilimoria, who thought that Britain needed a smoother, less gassy lager, which would appeal to both ale drinkers and lager drinkers alike... - Noel ClarkeNoel ClarkeNoel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, director and screenwriter from London. He is best known for playing Wyman Norris in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Mickey Smith in Doctor Who...
, director, screenwriter and actor - Garth CrooksGarth CrooksGarth Anthony Crooks OBE is a retired English football player of Jamaican ancestry. He played principally for Stoke City and Tottenham, with whom he was a prolific goal scorer and an FA Cup winner at Wembley in 1981...
, former football player - Alannah CurrieAlannah CurrieAlannah Currie is a musician and artist, best known as a former member of the UK pop group, Thompson Twins.-Career:...
, artist - Anita ChandaAnita ChandaAnita Chanda is an artist, born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire of Indian parents. She grew up in India and was educated at Loreto Convent. When her family moved backed to England she studied Fine Art at the Putney School of Art, and Graphic Art at Sir John Cass College of Art, London...
, artist - Tracey EminTracey EminTracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
, artist - Francis FrenchFrancis FrenchFrancis French is a book and magazine author from Manchester, England, specializing in space flight history. He is a former director of events for Sally Ride Science, and a director at the San Diego Air & Space Museum....
, historian and author - Kate HoeyKate HoeyCatharine Letitia Hoey is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Vauxhall since 1989. She served in the Blair Government as Minister for Sport from 1999 to 2001.-Background:...
, Member of Parliament - Sadiq KhanSadiq KhanSadiq Aman Khan is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Tooting since 2005, succeeding Tom Cox as the Labour MP for the seat...
, Member of Parliament - Gareth HowellGareth HowellGareth Howell is a Welsh auto racing driver. He competed sporadically in the British Touring Car Championship from 2000 to 2008....
, former parliamentary lobbyist and political campaigner - Nick LeesonNick LeesonNicholas "Nick" Leeson is a former derivatives broker whose fraudulent, unauthorized speculative trading caused the collapse of Barings Bank, the United Kingdom's oldest investment bank, for which he was sent to prison...
, 'rogue' trader who caused the collapse of Barings Bank - Maimie McCoyMaimie McCoyMaimie McCoy is an English actress. She is known for portraying Nicole Palmerston-Amory in Personal Affairs.-Background:McCoy was born in Yorkshire, where she attended Stokesley School. She studied Performing Arts at London Metropolitan University, graduating with a BA in 2001.McCoy is the...
, actress - Alison MoyetAlison MoyetAlison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
, pop singer - Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu IIOtumfuo Nana Osei Tutu IIKing Otumfuo Osei Tutu, is the 16th Asantehene, King of the Ashanti. He ascended the Golden Stool on 26 April 1999. By name, he is in direct succession to the founder of the Empire of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I.-Family:...
, KingKing- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
of the Ashanti - Lord Puttnam, film director
- Vic ReevesVic ReevesJames Roderick Moir , better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
, comedian - Daniela RuahDaniela RuahDaniela Sofia Korn Ruah is a Portuguese-American actress best known for playing NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles.-Early years:...
, actress, most notably NCIS: Los Angeles - Edwin SmithEdwin Smith (photographer)Edwin George Herbert Smith was an English photographer. He is best known for his distinctive vignettes of English gardens, landscapes, and architecture...
, photographer - Irwin Sparkes, front-man of pop band The HoosiersThe HoosiersThe Hoosiers are an English pop/rock band, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes , Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland ....
- Peter TatchellPeter TatchellPeter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
Human Rights Campaigner - Neil TennantNeil TennantNeil Francis Tennant is an English musician, singer and songwriter, who, with bandmate Chris Lowe, makes up the successful electronic dance music duo Pet Shop Boys.-Childhood:...
, from the Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards.... - Jamie TheakstonJamie TheakstonJamie Theakston is an English television and radio presenter, producer and actor.-Education:...
, TV presenter - Nick Tolhurst, Author & Commentator
- Charlie WhelanCharlie WhelanCharles Alexander James Whelan is former political director of the British trade union Unite. He rose to prominence as spokesman for Labour politician Gordon Brown from 1992 to 1999.-Early life and career:...
, Gordon BrownGordon BrownJames Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
's former spin doctor - Malcolm WicksMalcolm WicksMalcolm Hunt Wicks is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 1997. He was MP for Croydon North West from 1992 to 1997.-Early life and education:...
, Member of Parliament - Oritse Williams, member of JLS
Notable staff
- Patrick BrillPatrick BrillPatrick Brill, better known by his pseudonym Bob and Roberta Smith is a British contemporary artist.-Life and work:Brill graduated from University of Reading, Brill was awarded a scholarship at The British School at Rome while still an undergraduate...
, artist - Sadiq KhanSadiq KhanSadiq Aman Khan is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Tooting since 2005, succeeding Tom Cox as the Labour MP for the seat...
, Member of Parliament - A. J. P. TaylorA. J. P. TaylorAlan John Percivale Taylor, FBA was a British historian of the 20th century and renowned academic who became well known to millions through his popular television lectures.-Early life:...
, historian - Tony McNultyTony McNultyAnthony "Tony" James McNulty is a former British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Harrow East from 1997 to 2010 and was a government minister from 2002 to 2009. He was Minister for London and Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for...
, former Member of Parliament - Paul St GeorgePaul St GeorgePaul St George is a London based multimedia artist and sculptor, best known for The Telectroscope, an art installation visually linking London and New York....
, artist - Peter GowanPeter GowanPeter Gowan was a Professor of International Relations at London Metropolitan University, activist, published author and public speaker...
, left-wing intellectual and founder of New Left Review - Margot SunderlandMargot SunderlandMargot Sunderland is an English children's psychologist and psychotherapist. She is the Director of Education and Training at the Centre for Child Mental Health London and an honorary visiting fellow at the London Metropolitan University. She has been working with families and children for over 20...
, children's psychologist and author of popular books