She was responding to claims by Phil Brickell, the Labour MP for Bolton West, who told the Commons that a “significant number of whistleblowers” had contacted him following reports about “racism, financial misconduct and bullying at the University of Greater Manchester”.
Mill Media, an independent news outlet, said that more than a dozen current and former staff at the university made allegations of racism against senior officials. Other allegations of financial misconduct were also made. Ms Powell told MPs on Thursday that the Office for Students, the universities regulator, was “looking into those serious allegations and engaging with the provider, and that the police are involved as well”.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “We have received the allegations and are liaising with our fraud unit about what next steps are necessary.” The University of Greater Manchester, which is home to around 11,000 students, including nearly 1,700 from outside the UK, said it had appointed an auditing firm to investigate the allegations.
A spokesman said: “The university has commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent investigation into recent allegations reported in the press relating to the conduct and affairs of senior personnel working for or, on behalf of, the university.
The investigation will be overseen by the university’s audit committee. “Until we have the outcome of that investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.” Neil O’Brien, the shadow education minister, raised concerns in the Commons last month about “the extremely concerning reports” involving the university...
https://www.yahoo.com/news/university-investigated-police-racism-allegations
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