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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/sep/13/university-sector-faces-blight-of-neoliberalism
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| University sector faces blight of neoliberalism | University sector faces blight of neoliberalism |
| (13 days later) | |
| The scandal over university vice-chancellors’ pay (Oxford vice-chancellor denies rising salary is linked to tuition fees, 6 September) is not an aberration, but a systemic feature of our university sector which is now riddled with neoliberal market values. At Leeds University, our management is trying to introduce new grounds for sacking staff, using the catch-all justification of “some other substantial reason” for dismissal. They have stated that this could be used for reasons of “third party pressure”. | The scandal over university vice-chancellors’ pay (Oxford vice-chancellor denies rising salary is linked to tuition fees, 6 September) is not an aberration, but a systemic feature of our university sector which is now riddled with neoliberal market values. At Leeds University, our management is trying to introduce new grounds for sacking staff, using the catch-all justification of “some other substantial reason” for dismissal. They have stated that this could be used for reasons of “third party pressure”. |
| A fundamental presupposition of academic endeavour is the freedom to propose and test new or controversial ideas and theories without the fear of losing one’s job. Imagine the effect on research at Leeds if staff at the cutting edge have to look over their shoulders under pressure from a multinational corporation because their research findings may undermine its financial interests. | A fundamental presupposition of academic endeavour is the freedom to propose and test new or controversial ideas and theories without the fear of losing one’s job. Imagine the effect on research at Leeds if staff at the cutting edge have to look over their shoulders under pressure from a multinational corporation because their research findings may undermine its financial interests. |
| Universities are also plagued by casual employment contracts and, like the McDonald’s workers who recently went on strike (Report, 4 September), academic and related staff at Leeds University are taking industrial action to protect the academic profession from the consequences of neoliberalism.Lesley McGorriganProf Raymond BushProf James DickinsProf Steven FrenchProf Jane HolgateProf Matthew KieranProf Jane PlastowProf Malcolm PoveyProf John RodgersProf Paul RoutledgeEmeritus Prof Malcolm SawyerProf Pekka VäyrynenProf Janet WatsonDr Victor Dura-VilaDr Alaric HallDr Ulrike HeuerDr Johanna StiebertDr Adrian Wilson | Universities are also plagued by casual employment contracts and, like the McDonald’s workers who recently went on strike (Report, 4 September), academic and related staff at Leeds University are taking industrial action to protect the academic profession from the consequences of neoliberalism.Lesley McGorriganProf Raymond BushProf James DickinsProf Steven FrenchProf Jane HolgateProf Matthew KieranProf Jane PlastowProf Malcolm PoveyProf John RodgersProf Paul RoutledgeEmeritus Prof Malcolm SawyerProf Pekka VäyrynenProf Janet WatsonDr Victor Dura-VilaDr Alaric HallDr Ulrike HeuerDr Johanna StiebertDr Adrian Wilson |
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