Find out the latest guidance and information about the impact of COVID-19 on the University. COVID-19: ADVICE FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY Whistleblowing Disclosures in the Public Interest (Whistleblowing) Policy. Robert Gordon University is committed to operating in a responsible, honest and transparent manner. This policy and procedure provides a process through which employees, students and members of the public can report concerns of malpractice as a matter of public interest, without fear of reprisal. On this page Policy & Procedure Key points of the policy and procedure are: All disclosures will be acted upon promptly, sensitively, fairly and properly. The university will ensure that no-one is at risk of suffering penalty or disadvantage as a result of raising a concern in good faith. Disciplinary action may be taken if malicious unfounded allegations are made. All disclosures will be considered by an Investigation panel who will investigate disclosures, seek expert advice where appropriate, and produce a report on their findings. Disclosures in the Public Interest Whistleblowing Policy PDF - 120KB DOWNLOAD Contacts Staff members to whom a disclosure can be made: PRINCIPAL Professor Steve Olivier - Principal and Vice Chancellor, steve.olivier@rgu.ac.uk SENIOR MANAGEMENT GROUP MEMBERS Professor Nick Fyfe - Vice Principal (Research) n.fyfe3@rgu.ac.uk Mrs Vicki Nairn - Vice-Principal (Corporate Operations), vicki.nairn@rgu.ac.uk Professor Liz Hancock - Vice-Principal (Academic Development & Student Experience), l.hancock@rgu.ac.uk Ms Donella Beaton - Associate Vice-Principal (Business & Economic Development), d.beaton1@rgu.ac.uk Mrs Veronica Strachan - Assistant Chief Academic Officer & Secretary to the Board of Governors, v.strachan@rgu.ac.uk Emma Corry - Head of Student Recruitment & Admissions, e.corry@rgu.ac.uk Ms Julie Guest - Director of Student Administration, j.k.guest@rgu.ac.uk Mr Bill Somerville - Director of Estates and Property Services, w.somerville@rgu.ac.uk Mr Michael McCall - Director of Finance, m.mccall@rgu.ac.uk Ms Lydia Ross - Director of Human Resources, l.m.ross@rgu.ac.uk Mr Scott Matthew - Director of IT and Digital, s.matthew4@rgu.ac.uk Ms Margaret Buchan - Director of Library Services, m.buchan@rgu.ac.uk Professor Paul de Leeuw - Director of the RGU Energy Transition Institute, p.de-leeuw@rgu.ac.uk Dr Duncan Cockburn - Director of Planning & Policy, duncan.cockburn@rgu.ac.uk Mr Filippo Antoniazzi - Director of Student Life, f.antoniazzi@rgu.ac.uk Ms Kate Bullock - Head of Marketing, k.bullock1@rgu.ac.uk Professor Elizabeth Gammie - Head of Aberdeen Business School, e.gammie@rgu.ac.uk Professor Andrew Lamb - Head of the Graduate School, a.lamb@rgu.ac.uk Ms Libby Curtis - Head of Gray’s School of Art, e.curtis@rgu.ac.uk Professor Stephen Vertigans - Head of the School of Applied Social Studies, s.vertigans@rgu.ac.uk Dr Jo Royle - Head of the School of Creative Cultural Business, j.royle@rgu.ac.uk Professor John Isaacs - Head of the School of Computing & Digital Media, j.p.isaacs@rgu.ac.uk Professor Iain Steel - Head of the School of Engineering, j.a.steel@rgu.ac.uk Ms Laura Binnie - Head of the School of Health Sciences, l.m.binnie@rgu.ac.uk Professor Susan Dawkes - Head of the School of Nursing & Midwifery, s.dawkes@rgu.ac.uk Professor Donald Cairns - Head of the School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences, d.cairns@rgu.ac.uk Professor David McClean - Head of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & the Built Environment, d.mcclean@rgu.ac.uk Ms Margaret Downie - Interim Head of The Law School, m.downie@rgu.ac.uk UNIVERSITY SOLICITOR Mrs Helen Castle - University Solicitor, legal@rgu.ac.uk CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS Dr Colin Hunter – Chair of the Board of Governors, c.hunter13@rgu.ac.uk CONVENOR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr Ken Milroy - Convenor of the Audit Committee, ken.milroy@rgu.ac.uk Review & Monitoring The Policy and Procedure on Disclosures in the Public Interest (Whistleblowing) is reviewed on an annual basis as a standing item on the Board of Governor’s Audit Committee agenda. The Audit Committee receive an annual report on Ethics, Whistleblowing, Fraud and Gifts and Hospitality which details any any specific instances of breaches of the university’s policies and provides a record of the enquiries and investigations undertaken by the university in each of these areas. The findings and outcomes of any investigations are also monitored and reviewed by the Audit Committee. Public Interest Disclosure and Joint RGU/ SFC Lessons Learned Review 2018 In May 2018 the university received an anonymous Public Interest Disclosure regarding an alleged conflict of interest in the appointment the Vice Principal for Commercial and Regional Innovation. A panel of the university’s Board of Governors, which comprised the Convener of the Audit Committee, two independent governors and an external member, carried out a full and thorough investigation into this matter. The investigation panel followed the university’s policy and procedures on disclosures in the public interest and produced a report on its findings. There then followed a chain of events which culminated in the resignation of the University’s Principal and the appointment of his successor. Throughout these events there was much comment both in the media and from various stakeholders amidst concerns about the governance aspects of decisions being taken. The University and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) separately concluded that a “Lessons Learned” review was necessary; agreed that a joint exercise would be the most effective way to undertake this; and agreed that the exercise should identify: Where internal processes might be improved at RGU. Where improvements might be made to the Scottish Code of Good Higher Education Governance. Public Interest Disclosure Investigation - July 2018 PDF - 213KB DOWNLOAD SFC - REPORT OF THE LESSONS LEARNED REVIEW Academic CalendarIT HelpdeskLibraryCampusMoodleRGyoUEventsNews University PoliciesTransport & ParkingOpening HoursJobs SitemapPrivacy & Cookie StatementFOIWhistleblowingComplaintsModern Slavery StatementAccessibility Robert Gordon University, Garthdee House, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, AB10 7QB, Scotland, UK A Scottish charity, registration No. SC013781 Cookie Consent We use cookies on this website to improve your browsing experience. Some of the cookies are used for analysis and marketing purposes. For more details see our privacy and cookie statement. ACCEPT RECOMMENDED SETTINGS MANAGE PREFERENCES