Brian Roper (academic)
Encyclopedia
Brian Roper is a British economist
and former vice-chancellor
of London Metropolitan University
.
at the University of Wales
. After a stint at Unilever
he studied for a masters degree at the University of Manchester
.
In 1980s Roper held a number of administrative posts at the Newcastle Polytechnic, including the Head of the School of Economics, the Head of the Faculty of Professional Studies and Assistant Director.
Roper then moved to Oxford Polytechnic (renamed in 1992 into Oxford Brookes University
) to take up the Deputy Director post there. He later served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Oxford Brookes
.
In early 1994 Roper moved to the University of North London
to become Vice-Chancellor there. He remained at that post until the 2002 merger of North London with London Guildhall University
, which produced the London Metropolitan University
.
was appointed as the vice-chancellor and chief academic officer and Brian Roper appointed as the chief executive and accounting officer.
Effective April 1, 2004, Brian Roper became the Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, with Roderick Floud becoming the university's President.
His salary for 2006-7 was £276,000 before bonuses, making him the highest paid vice-chancellor in the country. Since the formation of London Met he caused controversy due to the receipt of large pay increases. In February 2005 the Times Higher reported that he was the "biggest winner" among V-Cs over the past decade, having seen a 124% increase in his salary. It also noted that his pay rise from 2003-4 occurred at a time when the university was seeking job cuts "because the institution has failed to meet internal financial targets".
rate, resulting in overpayments of government support. A report commissioned by the university found that Roper had “the major responsibility and culpability” for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive were aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student dropouts – rather than the funding council’s – since 2003, but took 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 meant that they “must take overall responsibility”. Roper threatened to sue for defamation if records were made public, but in the end did not.
During his service as the London Metropolitan's Vice-Chancellor, Roper was involved in a series of contentious battles with the union representing the university's lecturers.
In 2008, Roper attacked the government funding of Oxford University and Cambridge University, calling them "finishing school
s" that had not delivered on government priorities for social mobility
.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and former vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
Career
Roper was born and raised in southeast London, and studied economicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. After a stint at Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
he studied for a masters degree at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
In 1980s Roper held a number of administrative posts at the Newcastle Polytechnic, including the Head of the School of Economics, the Head of the Faculty of Professional Studies and Assistant Director.
Roper then moved to Oxford Polytechnic (renamed in 1992 into Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
) to take up the Deputy Director post there. He later served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Oxford Brookes
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University is a new university in Oxford, England. It was named to honour the school's founding principal, John Brookes. It has been ranked as the best new university by the Sunday Times University Guide 10 years in a row...
.
In early 1994 Roper moved to the University of North London
University of North London
The University of North London was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with London Guildhall University to form London Metropolitan University. The former University of North London premises now form the new university's north campus, situated on...
to become Vice-Chancellor there. He remained at that post until the 2002 merger of North London with London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
, which produced the London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
London Metropolitan University
After the merger Roderick FloudRoderick Floud
Sir Roderick Castle Floud FBA is an economic historian and is currently the Provost of Gresham College. He is the son of Bernard Floud, M.P.-Career:...
was appointed as the vice-chancellor and chief academic officer and Brian Roper appointed as the chief executive and accounting officer.
Effective April 1, 2004, Brian Roper became the Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, with Roderick Floud becoming the university's President.
His salary for 2006-7 was £276,000 before bonuses, making him the highest paid vice-chancellor in the country. Since the formation of London Met he caused controversy due to the receipt of large pay increases. In February 2005 the Times Higher reported that he was the "biggest winner" among V-Cs over the past decade, having seen a 124% increase in his salary. It also noted that his pay rise from 2003-4 occurred at a time when the university was seeking job cuts "because the institution has failed to meet internal financial targets".
Role in London Met financial crisis
In 2009 Roper resigned his position as London Metropolitan's Vice-Chancellor in the wake of a financial crisis at the university that followed from submission of inaccurate data on its dropoutDropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
rate, resulting in overpayments of government support. A report commissioned by the university found that Roper had “the major responsibility and culpability” for the financial situation: Roper and some members of the executive were aware that the university had been applying its own interpretation of funding rules on student dropouts – rather than the funding council’s – since 2003, but took no action. The university’s board of governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
and audit committee
Audit committee
In a U.S. publicly-traded company, an audit committee is an operating committee of the Board of Directors charged with oversight of financial reporting and disclosure. Committee members are drawn from members of the company's board of directors, with a Chairperson selected from among the committee...
had an oversight
Oversight
Oversight may refer to:*Oversight , a French Thoroughbred racehorse*Regulation – rulemaking*Separation of powers - the concept of separate branches of government or agencies exercising authority over one another...
role, which made them ultimately “accountable for a financial failure of this magnitude” and meant that they “must take overall responsibility”. Roper threatened to sue for defamation if records were made public, but in the end did not.
Views
In 1997 Roper was a vocal opponent of the government's plans to increase student tuition fees, arguing that such a move would significantly reduce university enrollment by low-income students. He also spoke against the use of A-levels as the sole screening test in university admissions, arguing that the students' background and social circumstances must also be taken into account.During his service as the London Metropolitan's Vice-Chancellor, Roper was involved in a series of contentious battles with the union representing the university's lecturers.
In 2008, Roper attacked the government funding of Oxford University and Cambridge University, calling them "finishing school
Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
s" that had not delivered on government priorities for social mobility
Social mobility
Social mobility refers to the movement of people in a population from one social class or economic level to another. It typically refers to vertical mobility -- movement of individuals or groups up from one socio-economic level to another, often by changing jobs or marrying; but can also refer to...
.