The University of Greater Manchester is facing intense scrutiny after regulators launched an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities and suspected fraud. England's Office for Students (OfS) will examine whether the university has adequate management and governance arrangements in place, following a series of serious claims.
This inquiry comes on the back of a police probe led by Greater Manchester Police, which began in May after allegations of financial misconduct emerged. Detectives from their major incident team have been investigating suspected fraud and bribery since July, conducting searches at seven properties across Greater Manchester and southern England to gather evidence. The Serious Fraud Office was reportedly involved in discussions with the police in August but no charges have yet been laid.
The university has faced criticism over its handling of claims made by staff that hundreds of thousands of pounds in tuition fees were allegedly transferred to a private company via a recruitment partner in Morocco. The same company received millions of pounds for international marketing services, sparking concerns among students, staff and local MPs. Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, wrote to the Department for Education in February, expressing his disappointment with the OfS's response to allegations of bullying, racism and financial arrangements involving an "off-campus site" in Morocco.
In a bid to address these concerns, the university commissioned an internal investigation by PricewaterhouseCoopers, leading to the suspension of its vice-chancellor, Sir George Holmes, along with two other senior staff members. The suspensions were described as precautionary and did not imply any assumption of guilt. However, university staff subsequently passed a vote of no confidence in Holmes and the executive, prompting concerns from the University and College Union.
The OfS's investigation will likely take time to complete, given the complexity of the allegations and the ongoing police probe. Rick Jackson, Greater Manchester Police's lead for crime, intelligence and forensics, acknowledged that resolving this case may be a lengthy process.