EXCLUSIVE: GCU New York costs £5.5 million to run with NO students
7 December 2016, 12:22 | Updated: 15 December 2016, 12:22
UCU's Mary Senior Hits Out at Findings Of Heart Investigation on GCU New York
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Heart can reveal a Scottish university has spent more than £5.5 million running its New York campus which has no degree students.
Glasgow Caledonian University big apple base, which was opened by former First Minister Alex Salmond in 2013, is failing to cover its costs.
Despite having only four staff, wages bills have rocketed every year and have cost £1.2 million in total since it opened.
The university has not managed to get a licence to teach degrees yet.
GCU NY bosses claim the base has been "forging successful business partnerships".
The University and College Union say its members at the campus in Glasgow are "outraged" at our findings.
Mary Senior from the UCU has been talking to Heart's Connor Gillies
Glasgow Caledonian University declined to do an interview with Heart suggesting bosses had "nothing further to add".
In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is committed to an internationalisation strategy which will create stronger ties between the UK and the rest of the world, bringing investment into the UK economy, creating a significant number of jobs and offering broader educational experience and opportunities to its students.
"The University's investment in New York and London is based on being networked with the internationally recognised global hubs for the multi trillion-dollar industries of finance and fashion. No public funds are used in the initiative."
"During these early years of the investment, GCU NY has been forging successful business partnerships with 30 global leaders in the fashion industry, representing 211 brands and $200B in business."
We sent Heart's reporter Mimi Chiahemen to GCU New York.
She spoke to people in the area who are baffled at all the flags and signage being removed from the building
Ross Thomson is a Conservative MSP
