Editing London Metropolitan University (section)

==History==
London Metropolitan University was formed on 1 August 2002 by the merger of [[London Guildhall University]] and the [[University of North London]]. In October 2006, the University opened a new Science Centre as part of a £30m investment in its science department at the North campus on [[Holloway Road]], with a "Super Lab" claimed to be one of Europe's most advanced science teaching facilities,<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6127546.stm| title=Science centre 'best in Europe'| publisher=BBC World Service| date=8 November 2006| access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Guardian Unlimited">{{cite news| url=http://education.guardian.co.uk/clearing/video/londonmet/0,,2142839,00.html| title=Brought to you in association with London Metropolitan University| work=Guardian Unlimited| year=2007| access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.internationaleducationmedia.com/unitedkingdom/londonmet/londonmet.htm| title=Science 'superlab' opens at London Met United Kingdom| publisher=International Education Media| access-date=27 August 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009212627/http://internationaleducationmedia.com/unitedkingdom/londonmet/londonmet.htm| archive-date=9 October 2011| df=dmy-all}}</ref> and 280 workstations equipped with digital audio visual interactive equipment.

===London Guildhall University===
{{further|London Guildhall University}}
[[File:Crosby Hall.jpg|thumb|[[Crosby Hall, London|Crosby Hall]], Bishopsgate, where the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men started in 1848]]
In 1848, [[Charles James Blomfield]], the [[Bishop of London]], 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 (bishop)|Charles Mackenzie]], instituted the Metropolitan Evening Classes for Young Men in [[Crosby Hall, London|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 of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|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.

[[File:CityofLondonCollege1883.jpg|thumb|City of London College's new building at Moorfields in 1883 opened by the then Prince of Wales]]
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 [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] and the [[Prince of Wales]]) and were opened in 1881. In 1891 the college joined [[Birkbeck, University of London|Birkbeck Institute]] and the [[City University, London|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]].

[[File:Electra House.jpg|thumb|Electra House, 84 Moorgate, built by [[John Belcher (architect)|John Belcher]] in 1902, topped by a sculpture of young [[Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]]es supporting a zodiacal globe by [[F.W. Pomeroy]].]]
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. In 1977, it also became the home of the [[Fawcett Society]] library, afterwards the [[Women's Library]].

Under the [[Further and Higher Education Act 1992]] the Polytechnic was awarded university status (having previously awarded degrees of the [[Council for National Academic Awards]]). It was renamed London Guildhall University, to demonstrate its links with the City of London and the City's many guilds/livery companies. It was unassociated with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, based at the Barbican Centre. It was ranked 30th out of the UK's 43 new universities in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise. In August 2004, in the midst of a contract dispute with former LGU staff following the merger with the University of North London, it was reported that the management of the merged institution had ordered the destruction of the entire print run of a history of the university – ''London Guildhall University: From Polytechnic to University'' – authored by Sean Glynn, formerly a senior research fellow in the department of Politics and Modern History; the work had been commissioned by Sir [[Roderick Floud]], the President of London Metropolitan University, when Provost of LGU.<ref>[http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/book-pulped-at-london-met/190892.article "Book pulped at London Met"], ''Times Higher Education Supplement'', 27 August 2004, Retrieved 24 October 2014.</ref>

The former LGU campus, which was home to London Met's Guildhall School of Business and Law until August 2019, was located at the intersection of the City of London financial district and the old East End, near [[Aldgate East]], [[Tower Hill]] and [[Liverpool Street station|Liverpool Street]] [[London Underground|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, [[File:Calcutta house.jpg|thumb|Calcutta House which was named after the Indian port of [[Kolkata|Calcutta]]]]
[[File:London Metropolitan University 2005.jpg|thumb|The Tower Building with the [[Deconstructivism|deconstructivist]] Graduate Centre designed by [[Daniel Libeskind]]]]

===University of North London===
{{further|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 University]], London Metropolitan University became the largest unitary university in [[Greater London]].

The former UNL campus is now the Holloway campus and is located on [[Holloway Road]], near [[Holloway Road tube station|Holloway Road]] and [[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]] tube stations.

===Dalai Lama Honorary Doctorate controversy===
In May 2008, London Metropolitan University presented the [[14th Dalai Lama]] with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy,<ref>[http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=402148&sectioncode=26 London Metropolitan University – Dalai Lama visits], ''Times Higher Education Supplement'' 29 May 2008</ref> for "promoting peace globally".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7408799.stm UK University honours Dalai Lama], ''BBC'', 20 May 2008.</ref> This move caused controversy among the Chinese public and the [[overseas Chinese]] community,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/22/content_7839485.htm|title=Overseas Chinese communities condemn sabotage activities in Tibet|date=2 March 2008|access-date=6 September 2010|work=Window of China|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|location=Beijing|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928030636/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/22/content_7839485.htm|archive-date=28 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> who view the Dalai Lama as partly responsible for the [[2008 Tibetan unrest|2008 unrest in Tibet]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7302654.stm|title=Dalai Lama urges end to violence|date=18 March 2008|access-date=6 September 2010|work=BBC News}}</ref> As a result, Chinese migration agents had been reported to "boycott" London Metropolitan University in advising clients who wish to study in the UK.<ref>[http://world.people.com.cn/GB/57506/7380085.html 多家留学中介表示抵制挺"藏独"英国高校] (Several overseas study agencies say they will boycott British University that supports Tibetan independence), ''Global Daily'', 13 June 2008.</ref> The university's Vice-Chancellor, Brian Roper, in July sent a controversial public letter of apology to the [[Chinese Foreign Ministry]] via embassy officials.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jul/09/highereducation.uk|title=University says sorry to China for Tibet degree|first=Polly|last=Curtis|newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 July 2008|access-date=6 September 2010| location=London}}</ref> 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 honours by refusing speaking platforms to Tibetan independence groups, such as the university's own "Free Tibet Society".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/08/content_6826398.htm|title=London school regrets honoring Dalai Lama|first=Li|last=Xiang|newspaper=[[China Daily]]|date=8 July 2008|access-date=6 September 2010}}</ref> The university has also faced criticism for offering free scholarships specifically reserved for students from the Tibetan exile community in India, Nepal and the West, in a case of non-merit "[[racial quota]]s".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/08/content_6826398.htm|title=London school regrets honoring Dalai Lama|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>

===Student numbers controversy===
[[File:London Met Demo 28Jan09.jpg|thumb|A demonstration against job cuts in Jan 2009]]
In July 2008, it was reported that a financial crisis was looming for the university. London Met had allegedly been misreporting data on student [[Dropping out|drop-outs]] for several years and, consequently, the [[Higher Education Funding Council for England]] (HEFCE) was proposing to reclaim at least £15&nbsp;million for the overpayment in 2008–9.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Attwood |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=402684&sectioncode=26 |title=Hefce clawback means cuts loom |magazine=Times Higher Education |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref> In February 2009 the overpayment figure was revised to £56&nbsp;million by [[HEFCE]], who were seeking to recover the money.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/feb/03/brian-roper| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=Balancing the books| date=3 February 2009| access-date=11 May 2010| first=Maureen| last=Paton}}</ref>

On 19 March 2009, in response to the crisis, vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Brian Roper]] resigned his position with immediate effect but continued to receive his salary until December 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/mar/19/brian-roper-resignation-london-met| work=The Guardian| location=London| title=Vice-chancellor of London Metropolitan quits| first=Polly| last=Curtis| date=19 March 2009| access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref> In May 2009, [[Alfred Morris (academic)|Alfred Morris]], former vice-chancellor of the [[University of the West of England]] and [[University of Wales, Lampeter]], was appointed interim vice-chancellor.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=406616&c=1| title=Governors have explored the legal scenarios if London Met goes bust| magazine=Times Higher Education| date=21 May 2009| access-date=21 May 2009|authorlink= Melanie Newman}}</ref>

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.<ref>[[Melanie Newman]], [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=406649&c=2 "Government announces inquiry into London Met crisis"], ''Times Higher Education'', 21 May 2009.</ref> The inquiry concluded in November 2009 and was reported to attribute responsibility to vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Brian Roper]], along with other senior administrators and the Board of Governors. Following completion 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.<ref>Lucy Hodges and Richard Garner, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/university-accused--of-16336m-student-scam-1825909.html "University accused of £36m student scam"], ''The Independent'', 22 November 2009.</ref> After the deadline indicated by HEFCE chief executive Alan Langlands had expired, rumours circulated among staff and government ministers that HEFCE could withdraw funding, effectively forcing the university to close.<ref>Lucy Hodges and Richard Garner, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/london-met-warned-that-it-could-be-closed-1835511.html "London Met warned that it could be closed"], ''The Independent'', 7 December 2009.</ref>

A report commissioned by the university, published in November 2009, found that vice-chancellor [[Brian Roper (academic)|Roper]] bore "the major responsibility and culpability" for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive had been aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student drop-outs – rather than the funding council's – since 2003, but had taken 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 this meant that they "must take overall responsibility".<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Rebecca|last=Attwood|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=409180&c=2|title=Roper is to blame for fiasco, but London Met's board bears responsibility|journal=[[Times Higher Education]]|date=20 November 2009}}</ref>

===2011 course changes===
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 help increase the opportunity for development and guidance before students move to final examinations.<ref name=LondonMet723>[http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/latest-news/2011/may/new-directions-at-london-met.cfm "New directions at London Met"], London Metropolitan University, 6 May 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510225825/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/latest-news/2011/may/new-directions-at-london-met.cfm |date=10 May 2011 }}.</ref> 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.<ref name=THE511>John Morgan, [http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=416020&c=1 "London Met applicants trapped in limbo by course closures and Ucas deadline"], ''Times Higher Education'', 5 May 2011.</ref>

===Proposed alcohol-free zones===
In April 2012, Professor Malcolm Gillies, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, was reported to be considering creating alcohol-free zones and events to enable Muslim students (who form 20% of the student population) to take part more comfortably.<ref>{{cite news| title=University where 20% of students are Muslim considers alcohol-free zones| url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/apr/12/university-alcohol-free-zones-muslim-students| newspaper=The Guardian| date=12 April 2012| author=Jessica Shepherd| location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9199759/London-Metropolitan-University-mulls-alcohol-ban-for-conservative-Muslim-students.html| title=London Metropolitan University mulls alcohol ban for 'conservative Muslim students'| newspaper=Daily Telegraph| author=Matthew Holehouse| date=12 April 2012}}</ref> This provoked criticism from the [[Muslim Council of Britain]]<ref name="alcohol">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17701963| title=London Metropolitan University's alcohol-free zone plan| work=BBC News| date=13 April 2012}}</ref> and the university's Islamic societies, who described the proposal as unhelpful and "divisive",<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9235874/Muslim-students-condemn-divisive-and-irresponsible-university-alcohol-ban.html| title=Muslim students condemn 'divisive and irresponsible' university alcohol ban| newspaper=Daily Telegraph| author=Hannah Furness| date=30 April 2012| location=London}}</ref> but positive comments from representatives of the [[National Union of Students (United Kingdom)|National Union of Students]] and the [[Federation of Student Islamic Societies]].<ref name="alcohol"/>

===UK Home Office/Border Agency action, and consequences===
On 16 July 2012, the [[UK Border Agency]] of the [[Home Office]] suspended the university's "highly-trusted status" with the Border Agency, a status required in order for the university to be eligible to sponsor both new student visa applications as well as existing student visas, for foreign students from outside of the [[European Union]] and the [[European Economic Area]] (or Switzerland). The university was one of three institutions to have such a status suspended.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9418013/Ban-on-university-overseas-recruits-after-missing-students-failure.html| title=Ban on university overseas recruits after 'missing' students failure| newspaper=The Telegraph| date=22 July 2012|access-date=28 August 2012| location=London| first=David| last=Barrett}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=420965&c=1| title=Home Office 'to strip' London Met of highly trusted status| magazine=Times Higher Education| date=26 August 2012|access-date=28 August 2012}}</ref>

On 30 August 2012, the university's highly trusted status was revoked,<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2012/august/28-LMU-revoked1| title=London Metropolitan University's licence to sponsor students is withdrawn | publisher=UK Border Agency| date=30 August 2012| access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/news-releases/2012-press-releases/revocation-of-highly-trusted-status-for-sponsoring-international-students.cfm| title=Revocation of Highly Trusted Status for sponsoring international students| publisher=London Metropolitan University| date=29 August 2012| access-date=30 August 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901004350/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/news-releases/2012-press-releases/revocation-of-highly-trusted-status-for-sponsoring-international-students.cfm| archive-date=1 September 2012| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref> revoking the university's right to sponsor new visa applications for non-EU/EEA foreign students, as well as revoking the existing visas of the university's pre-existing non-European foreign students, causing them to be excluded from the university, and leaving thousands with the possibility of being forced to leave the country, unless places with alternative institutions and sponsors are secured.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19419395| title=London Metropolitan University's visa licence is revoked| work=BBC News| date=30 August 2012|access-date=30 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/40-higher-education/12446-london-metropolitan-university |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909233228/http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/40-higher-education/12446-london-metropolitan-university%7C |archivedate=9 September 2012 |title=London Metropolitan's visa licence revoked|website=GovToday}}</ref>

The Immigration Minister, [[Damian Green]], cited a number of reasons for the decision, including the discovery that more than a quarter of the students in the test sample did not in fact have [[leave to remain]] in the UK, that the university did not have and could not provide sufficient proof of English-language proficiency standards for some of its students, and the fact that the university was unable to confirm the attendance of its students, in some 57% of the sampled cases.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19419395| title=London Metropolitan University students fear deportation| work=BBC News| date=30 August 2012|access-date=30 August 2012}}</ref>

In September 2012, the university announced it was beginning legal action against the border agency over the licence issue.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19468774 | work=BBC News | title=London Metropolitan University starts visa legal action | date=3 September 2012}}</ref>

In April 2013, the university regained its licence to sponsor international students for Tier 4 visas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/news-releases/2013-press-releases/international-sponsor-status-restored.cfm |title=International sponsor status restored |access-date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413083107/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/news-releases/2013-press-releases/international-sponsor-status-restored.cfm |archive-date=13 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The High Court case against Home Office was settled in October 2013 after both parties reached an undisclosed settlement.  Both parties have refused to comment on the specifics of the settlement.  The last minute withdrawal of the case meant that the judicial review against the Home Office, which had been scheduled to start on 17 October 2013, would not proceed any further.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/london-met-stops-legal-action-against-the-government/2008082.article|title=London Met stops legal action against the government|work=Times Higher Education|date=10 October 2013|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref>

In November 2019, London Metropolitan University released a statement confirmed that University Patron [[Prince Andrew]], [[Duke of York]] had resigned.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/articles/statement-about-our-patron/|title=STATEMENT: Our Patron|publisher=London Metropolitan University|date=19 November 2019|access-date=9 April 2021}}</ref>