UCU welcomes Essex University’s decision to reject private firm

Tuesday, 07, Oct 2008 12:00

The University and College Union (UCU) today (Tuesday) welcomed the news that Essex University will not be proceeding with a joint venture with INTO or any other private provider. UCU said the announcement represented a considerable victory for its members across the country, not just in Essex, in its fight against the privatisation of education.

The union said that the University should be congratulated for listening to its staff after 90% of staff voting at open referendum in June said they believed any partnership with INTO would damage the University.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “Today’s decision is a considerable tribute to the campaign fought by UCU and its members at Essex. It is also to the credit of the vice-chancellor that he has shown there is a positive alternative to privatisation. I am delighted that Essex has decided to join the growing number of universities who are deciding against joint ventures and partnerships with private providers like INTO.

“UCU will continue its campaign against the privatisation of higher education. We are not prepared to watch our universities risk hard won reputations and future financial health by signing capital and revenue over to what are in effect private sector property developers.”

The union has campaigned against INTO as it believes privatisation will mean a worse deal for staff and students, and it will badly damage the reputation of UK higher education. UCU has raised concerns that staff in particular would get a raw deal if INTO were to take over the running of educational courses in universities, especially following the admission by its Chairman earlier this year that INTO’s rates of pay for teaching staff are ‘probably worse’ than in their host universities.

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contacts:

Dan Ashley t: 020 7670 9705; m: 07789 518 992; e: dashley@ucu.org.uk