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THE chortling in your Antithesis column (THES, September 12) about Luton's Investors in People status is, I am happy to say, premature. We have not lost our IiP recognition: we were visited in July, when the assessors identified specific matters on which they needed further information.

They are returning early next month and we are confident that they will be able to confirm our status then. Interestingly, neither of the matters to which your piece referred (career reviews and management training) is a direct consequence of the financial constraints we have been experiencing; instead they arise from incomplete evidence of operational management routines.

They are, however, important in the context of excellent human resource management practice, which is why the Dearing committee was so keen to endorse the value of IiP for all universities.

R. W. Harris

Dean of quality assurance University of Luton