LECTURERS at a Glasgow college have passed a vote of no confidence in their senior management team following a damning inspection report.
Members of the EIS-FELA teaching union from Glasgow Kelvin College also overwhelmingly
backed a no confidence vote in the institution's board.
The move came just weeks after a report by national inspection body Education Scotland found the college had the worst drop-out rates for students on higher education courses in Scotland.
Inspectors called for "urgent improvement" in academic programmes where attainment was low and gave the college a year to provide an action plan.
In a letter to Alan Sherry, the college principal, Pam Currie, the EIS-FELA branch secretary, said the view of members was that management had "failed to deliver the effective leadership necessary to guide our college at this difficult time".
She said: "In particular, members felt that the management had failed to negotiate or consult with staff or their representatives in a proper and meaningful manner and that there is a disconnect between senior management and teaching staff that is causing extreme difficulties for both staff and students.
"The branch also felt that the board had failed to hold the senior management team to account on these issues.
"As staff representatives we are particularly concerned that no proper dialogue has taken place between teaching staff representatives and the senior management in the wake of a highly critical Education Scotland review."
She concluded that staff had "no confidence" in his ability to ensure the effective running of the college.
A statement from the board of management, which is chaired by Irving Hodgson, said members were seeking to implement actions to address the recommendations contained in the Education Scotland report.
It said: "The board is disappointed to note the vote of no confidence which has been taken by EIS-FELA members on both its own role and that of the senior management team at the college.
"College managers meet routinely with EIS/FELA branch officials to consult on a range of matters.
"Following the Education Scotland review, the principal held meetings with all staff to inform them of the outcome and indicated that an action plan would be drafted, agreed and put in place to address those areas..... identified for action."
The row comes as another major blow to the further education sector in Glasgow, which has been rocked by a number of controversies in recent weeks.
Susan Walsh, the principal of Glasgow Clyde College, was been suspended on full pay after concerns over her management style.
The Scottish Funding Council has also launched an investigation into the actions of the board and has raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of the over-arching Glasgow Colleges Regional Board which, until recently, was chaired by former First Minister Henry McLeish.
Mr McLeish was forced to step down after several high profile resignations from the board including Maureen McKenna, the education director of Glasgow City Council, and Pamela Gillies, the principal of Glasgow Caledonian University.
Glasgow Kelvin College was formed in 2013 following a merger of John Wheatley, North Glasgow, and Stow colleges. It employs 670 staff teaching some 15,000 students at five campuses across the North and East of the city. The college has an annual budget of £33 million.
Inspectors from Education Scotland found 37 per cent of learners at Glasgow Kelvin College did not complete their higher education studies compared to a national average of 28 per cent.
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