
TORY MP David Willetts has been appointed as a visiting professor to teach at King’s, the College announced today.
The ex-minister, who controversially oversaw the trebling of tuition fees, will work at the Policy Institute, but with a “College-wide remit”. He will initially teach undergrad and postgrad courses in the Department of Political Economy.
The appointment is seen as controversial by some students and staff, due to Willetts’s past in education reform.
Sebastiaan Debrouwere, KCLSU President, tweeted: “I’ve promised to [be] milder on my swearing in a professional capacity, but what the actual fuck.”
Principal Ed Byrne said he was “‘delighted”, adding: “I will personally greatly value his insights on current and future strategic opportunities and challenges and how best to position King’s in the evolving higher education environment.”
Willetts, who was also “delighted”, said he was “particularly pleased that this will be an opportunity to teach, to support research, and to work with Ed Byrne.”
Rumours of the appointment surfaced last month, as Roar reported.