-----Original Message----- From: Sally Hunt, UCU joint general secretary Sent: Tue 13/02/2007 To: Vice-chancellor/Principal Subject: University privatisation - an open letter from UCU members to vice- chancellors and principals Dear vice-chancellor/principal, I am writing to provide you with a copy of an open letter to all vice-chancellors and principals from UCU members setting out UCU's opposition to increasing levels of private sector involvement in the provision of academic and other key university functions. We are concerned that, in common with experience across the rest of the public sector, the increasing involvement of private sector providers threatens both the quality of services and the pay and terms and conditions of staff. As you know, I have raised our concerns with UUK and with UCEA through the JNCHES machinery, where our position was supported by all the unions representing university staff. You should be in no doubt that the academic community is overwhelmingly opposed to further privatisation. In just over a week nearly 4,500 staff have signed the open letter and more are signing every day. I will be sending you a paper copy of both the open letter and the signatures so far this week and I would be grateful for a reply confirming that your university will not seek to privatise or contract out any aspect of the running of any academic department or key support function Yours Sally Hunt Joint general secretary, UCU An open letter to vice-chancellors and principals from UCU members We are writing to you to let you know of UCU's opposition to increasing levels of private sector involvement in the provision of academic and other key university functions. We are particularly concerned that companies such as Study Group International, KAPLAN and INTO have been in extensive discussion with some UK universities with the aim taking over the provision of courses in IT, vocational training and language teaching for - in particular overseas students. Our concern is at the possible negative impact of these ventures upon the quality of education provided and also the impact on the terms and conditions of the staff where private provision replaces that of the institution itself. The international market is of crucial importance to UK universities. It seems to us that handing responsibility for providing and preparing overseas students to the private sector is dangerous. In addition to the concerns about quality and the conditions of the staff, what happens if and when a private provider decides that this 'market' is not profitable enough? We find it difficult to understand why you would not want to control your own destiny in this area. The proliferation of interest from private firms in higher education raises other issues too which go much wider than the provision of language courses for overseas students. We are also concerned about the effect of being transferred to a private company on the future pay, pensions, workloads, job security and even academic freedom of staff. For these reasons, UCU is campaigning vigorously against the privatisation of higher education. We will resist attempts to transfer academic departments and staff into private ownership and will defend our members' terms and conditions, including pension rights, as well as the quality of students' education. Please confirm that your university will not seek to privatise or contract out any aspect of the running of any academic department or key support function. Signed by: Sally Hunt, UCU, Steve Wharton, Bath/National Jt President, Adam Eldridge, University of Westminster, Alex Bell, Trinity College, Atsuko Ichijo, Kingston University, London, Andrew Buxton, IDS, Sussex, Alan Evison, Queen Mary, University of London, Algy Kazlauciunas, Leeds University, Andrew Knapp, University of Reading, Anne Thorpe, University of Bristol, Anne Gill, University of Greenwich, Adrian Howells MA MPhil [Cantab], The Open University, Anna Robins, University of Salford, Andrea Klaus, Warwick University, Dr Anne Humphreys, Liverpool John Moores University, Dorota Pacek, Birmingham University, Arun Holden, Leeds, Aengus Ward, University of Birmingham, Dr A K Manning, University of Warwick, Anthony Kay, Loughborough University, Adam Biran, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Andrew Forrest, Imperial College, Andrew Platt, Staffordshire University, Anna Clough, University of Leeds, Yunas Samad, University of Bradford, Alan Johnson, London Metropolitan University, Ann Wells, University Of Derby, Alistair Clark, University of the West of England, Alun Ford, University of London, Ann Smith, University of Liverpool, Howard Moss, Swansea University, Dr A Denis, City University London, Alan Mabbett, University of Central England, A F Abbey, University of Leicester, Space Research Centre, Dr Alex Ibhadon, University of Hull, Andrew Williams, University of Birmingham, Annabel Marsh, University of Glamorgan, Andrew Thomas, Kingston University, Adrian Newman, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Andy Robinson, Queen Mary, University of London, Anthony Hartley, U Leeds, Alister Burr, University of York, Alex Moseley, University of Leicester, Adrian Jenkins, Durham University, Andrew Gritt, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Charles Owen, University of Birmingham, Dr A D Grant, Strathclyde University, Ray Carson, Coventry University, Gail Horton, Birmingham Uni, Avril Rolph, University of Wales Swansea, Philip King, English for International Students, Univ of Bham, Dr A L Heyes, Imperial College London, Anahid Kassabian, University of Liverpool, Rick Millican, EISU, University of Birmingham, alison brewer, kings college london, Dr Alan Christy, CPhys, FInstP, University of Central Lancashire, Dr Nadia Amin, University of Westminster, Andy White, University of Ulster, Christopher Stevens, University of Brighton, Dr Andy Mousley, De Montfort University, Athanasios Velios, University of the Arts London, Angela Allcock, University Of Bath, Dr Alan Watson, University of Birmingham, Alan Brown, University of Liverpool, Bruno Frenguelli, University of Dundee, Sue Birch, Leeds Metropolitan University, Alasdair Jones, London School of Economics, andy judson, university of dundee , Dr Aletta J. Norval, University of Essex, Mrs R Pérez de Baines, Cardiff University, Dr Aidan Hehir, University of Sheffield, Billy Brick, Coventry University, Dr A.P.Boyle, University of Liverpool, Dr Alison Sealey, University of Birmingham, Alice Rogers, King's College London, David Button, University of Birmingham, Prof AC Parrott, Swansea University, Benjamin Ambrose, Keele University, Alistair Stead, School of English, University of Leeds, Vicky Spencer, University of Birmingham, Ann Davies, Newcastle University, benny goodman, University of Plymouth, Dr. Pijush Bhattacharyya, University of Westminster, Anja Lowit, Strathclyde University, Beth Fielding-Lloyd, Sheffield Hallam University, Andrew King, Canterbury Christ Church University, Bill Schwarz, Queen Mary, University of London, Antony Davis, University of London, John Beer, University of Cambridge, Robert Holland, CELS, University of Birmingham, Rebecca Fraser, University of East Anglia, Dr Andrew Perchard, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Andy McColl, University of Durham, Alastair Macdonald, University of Aberdeen, Stephanie Barnett, University of Liverpool, Assad Jalali, University of Wales Swansea, Colin Berry, Cardiff University, A. Shukurov, Newcastle University/Newcastle upon Tyne, V. Anne Macdonald, UCL, Tony Haslam, Cranfield University, Alexander Gegov, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Andrew Gardner, UCL, Jeannette Littlemore, University of Birmingham, Christopher Browning, Keele University, Christine Cooper, Strathcldye University, Amy E Anderson, Newcastle University, Catherine O'Rawe, University of Bristol, Clemens Altaner, University of Glasgow, Dr Belinda Winder, NTU, andy ashenhurst, university of kent canterbury, Christoph Dieckmann, Keele University, Ben Osho, UCL, Brian Livingston, Univerity of Glasgow/Glasgow, Dr Atul Purohit, Imperial College London / St Mary's Hospital, Dr Andy Mullen, Northumbria University, Dr. Attila Csenki, University of Bradford, David Hackett, Loughborough University / Loughborough, Cathy Howieson, Edinburgh University, Bob stradling, Sunderland University, Dr A Leaver, Edinburgh University, Dr A Leaver, Edinburgh University, Christine English, University of Reading, Chris Lloyd, Queen's University, Belfast, Anna Baildon, University of Bath, Andrew Makoff, King's College, London Institute of Psychiatry, Colin Smith, University of Sheffield, Professor Bob Gates, Thames Valley University, Clive Boulter, University of Southampton, Dr Cathal McCall, Queen's University, Belfast, Dr B C Maddrell, University of Liverpool, Brian Ward, Nottingham Trent, Dr Bevis Miller, University of Bristol, Aidan Burton, University of Newcastle, Prof Chris Lawn, Queen Mary, UoL, Dr. Andrew Craxton, MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, Andrew Brasher, The Open University, Carlton McDonald, University of Derby, chris little, lancaster university, Christopher Anderson, Durham University, Carolyn Roth, City University, London, Charles McManus, Cranfield University, Angela Lee, University of Salford, Angi Malderez, University of Leeds, Charles antaki, Loughborough University, Beth Grunfeld, King's College London, Aileen Scott Johnson, The University of Edinburgh, Bernard Rachet, Lshtm, London, Ann Charlton, University of Nottingham, Catriona Morrison, University of Leeds, Karen Ward, Coventry