A WAR of words has erupted between a borough councillor and the vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton over academic league tables.

Little Lever councillor Sean Hornby has blasted Professor George Holmes for “playing the woe is me card” and “blaming anyone but himself” for the university’s poor league position.

But the vice-chancellor has hit back at the UKIP Councillor, describing his comments as “absurd, superficial and sensationalist”.

The row comes after Professor Holmes criticised what he called “elitist and discriminatory” university league tables.

He was angry that the University of Bolton had been placed 123rd in the country in the Sunday Times guide.

He argued that the tables are more a reflection of socio economic factors rather than the quality and “value added” that the university can bring to its students — suggesting aspects like student experience, satisfaction and quality of learning should be better acknowledged.

Commenting on the reaction, Cllr Hornby said: “The vice-chancellor is looking to blame anyone but himself for the dreadful results — he seems to want success to be measured by anything other than academic achievement.

“Addressing diversity, low entry qualifications and economic deprivation is all well and good, but employers want academically well qualified graduates — in accepting low entry qualifications he is making a rod for his own back and the likelihood is that he will finish up with low exit qualifications.”

Cllr Hornby said he feels the university has what it takes to climb the league tables, but said that will only happen when Prof Holmes stops playing the “woe is me card” and brings in tougher entry standards, rather than “accepting anyone from anywhere to make up the numbers (and income)”.

In response, Prof Holmes said: “Very few people can doubt the benefit to the town of having its own university.

“The economic benefits are unarguable, the benefits of a higher education to students, and ultimately society are equally unarguable — imagine, if you will for a moment, Bolton without its university.”

On league tables, he added: “As for newspaper league tables, they are, as I said, designed to sensationalise a serious issue and to sell copy. They do not measure the right things in a modern university sector — they are ‘one size fits all’ and do not reflect the diversity of the sector.

Addressing Cllr Hornby’s comments, he said: “To suggest critique by academics of the tables is inappropriate is absurd.

“Universities seek knowledge, understanding and, if there is such a thing, truth.

“The tables and said councillors’ comments are superficial and sensationalist — neither serve students, our communities nor the nation well.”