Former pro vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University sentenced to five years for fraud

Commenting on the sentencing of former dean of the faculty of education at Edge Hill University, Robert Smedley, and his partner Christopher Joynson for five years each for fraud, UCU said the university had serious questions to answer around its governance.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'This case highlights serious questions that the senior management of Edge Hill University have to answer over governance - something UCU has raised concerns about in the past. 

'Any attempt by the university to portray itself as the victim in this case would be wholly inappropriate. The real victims are taxpayers, students and staff, and the whole sorry episode brutally exposes how a lack of transparency in universities can leave them vulnerable to fraud.'