[Responsible-digital-futures] Anti-Corruption in UK universities

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,


According to the Guardian article dated  8 July 2026 , three people have
been arrested as part of an investigation into financial crimes involving
the University of Greater Manchester, including allegations of fraud,
bribery and money laundering.


Details at
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jul/08/three-arrested-investigation-university-of-greater-manchester


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0ly5550jkxo


https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/dec/04/regulators-inquiry-university-greater-manchester-fraud-claims


These news on alleged financial irregularities at the University of Greater
Manchester raises questions on the governance and financial structures in
UK Higher Education.


This also raises some serious questions of the Office for Students and why
they didn't catch any of this?


The police only got involved thanks to some good local investigative
journalism. Let's protect actual journalism, and let's change the
governance & funding system of UK Higher Education.


What does Andy Burnham’s promise to transfer power from Westminster to
local communities mean for academic communities?


This article *“UK devolution must extend to its authoritarian universities”*
published in Times Higher Education  might be of interest. Institutions
whose managers are unaccountable to their staff can never be truly civic
universities, says Krzysztof Nawratek. Details at


https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/uk-devolution-must-extend-its-authoritarian-universities


This article on *“A Co-operative Future for Britain’s Universities?*” by Dr
Michael Paraskos might be of interest. Details at

https://party.coop/2026/07/03/a-co-operative-future-for-britains-universities/


This book  launched in July 2026 titled “*Corrupted Kingdom: Britain’s
Disappearing Integrity – and How We Can Get It Back” * by Professor Robert
Barrington (Professor of Anti-Corruption Practice at the University of
Sussex) might be of interest. Details at
https://www.sussex.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-study-of-corruption/index


The UK's universities are facing an unprecedented crisis. Across the
sector, thousands of jobs are being lost, departments are shrinking, and
research capacity is being eroded. I request the UK government to
investigate the role of consultancy firms involved in advising the
university senior managements on ‘restructuring’ and senior university
management of many UK universities taking significant pay rises and bonuses
throughout a worsening national economic situation.


Best wishes


Suchith


Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and
International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science
Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate

https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org
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