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Let UK universities do what they do best – teaching and research Let UK universities do what they do best – teaching and research
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The UK’s universities can justifiably claim an outstanding international reputation, generating multiple direct and indirect benefits for society, and underpinning our core professions through training and education. Yet these attributes are being undermined and degraded from within and without, with innovation, creativity, originality and critical thought, as well as notions of social justice, being threatened by forces of marketisation demanding “competitiveness” and “efficiency” in teaching and research. This generates continuous pressures to standardise, conform, obey and duplicate in order to be “transparent” to measurement.The UK’s universities can justifiably claim an outstanding international reputation, generating multiple direct and indirect benefits for society, and underpinning our core professions through training and education. Yet these attributes are being undermined and degraded from within and without, with innovation, creativity, originality and critical thought, as well as notions of social justice, being threatened by forces of marketisation demanding “competitiveness” and “efficiency” in teaching and research. This generates continuous pressures to standardise, conform, obey and duplicate in order to be “transparent” to measurement.
Government regulations are escalating pressures on academics, insisting they function as 'small businesses'Government regulations are escalating pressures on academics, insisting they function as 'small businesses'
Government regulations and managerial micro-management are escalating pressures on academics, insisting they function as “small businesses” covering their own costs or generating profits. Highly paid university managers (and even more highly paid “management consultants”) are driving these processes, with little regard for, or understanding of, the teaching and research process in higher education. Yet these outdated models of “competitiveness” and “efficiency” have long since been rejected not only by those who believe in quality education as a force for social change but also by progressive business thinking worldwide. This deprofessionalisation and micro-management of academics is relentlessly eroding their ability to teach and conduct research effectively and appropriately. A compliant, demoralised and deprofessionalised workforce is necessarily underproductive, and cannot innovate.Government regulations and managerial micro-management are escalating pressures on academics, insisting they function as “small businesses” covering their own costs or generating profits. Highly paid university managers (and even more highly paid “management consultants”) are driving these processes, with little regard for, or understanding of, the teaching and research process in higher education. Yet these outdated models of “competitiveness” and “efficiency” have long since been rejected not only by those who believe in quality education as a force for social change but also by progressive business thinking worldwide. This deprofessionalisation and micro-management of academics is relentlessly eroding their ability to teach and conduct research effectively and appropriately. A compliant, demoralised and deprofessionalised workforce is necessarily underproductive, and cannot innovate.
Unprecedented levels of anxiety and stress among both academic and academic-related staff and students abound, with “obedient” students expecting, and even demanding, hoop-jumping, box-ticking and bean-counting, often terrified by anything new, different, or difficult. Managerial surveys then “measure” their consumer “satisfaction” – such are the low ambitions of today’s universities, locked into a conservative status quo mentality; for what is there left to learn, when you already know it in order to demand it?Unprecedented levels of anxiety and stress among both academic and academic-related staff and students abound, with “obedient” students expecting, and even demanding, hoop-jumping, box-ticking and bean-counting, often terrified by anything new, different, or difficult. Managerial surveys then “measure” their consumer “satisfaction” – such are the low ambitions of today’s universities, locked into a conservative status quo mentality; for what is there left to learn, when you already know it in order to demand it?
We call upon parliament’s newly elected education committee to conduct an urgent investigation into these grave matters. We call upon parliament’s newly elected education committee to conduct an urgent investigation into these grave matters.
Peter Abbs Professor emeritus, University of SussexPatrick Ainley Professor of training and education, University of GreenwichPriscilla Alderson Professor emerita of childhood studies, UCL Institute of EducationDennis Atkinson Professor emeritus Goldsmiths University of LondonProfessor Jim Aulich Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester School of ArtJames Avis Professor of PCET, School of Education, University of HuddersfieldStephen Ball Karl Mannheim Professor of sociology of education, Institute of Education/UCLBernard Barker Emeritus professor of education, University of LeicesterEmeritus Professor Michael Bassey Nottingham Trent UniversityProfessor Ann-Marie Bathmaker University of BirminghamTina Beattie Professor of Catholic studies, University of Roehampton LondonLori Beckett Professor of teacher education, Leeds Beckett UniversityProfessor Andrew Bennett Department of English, University of Bristol Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya Department of sociology, University of East LondonAndreas Bieler Professor of political economy, University of NottinghamProfessor Michael Billig Loughborough UniversityProfessor David Brauner Department of English literature, University of ReadingMarie Breen-Smyth Professor of international politics, University of SurreyRoger Brown Emeritus Professor of higher education policy, Liverpool Hope UniversityVanessa Burholt Professor of gerontology, Swansea UniversityProfessor Hugh Burkhardt University of Nottingham and UC BerkeleyProfessor Diana Burton Faculty of education health & wellbeing University of WolverhamptonProfessor Mark Burton Manchester Metropolitan UniversityProfessor Peter Buse Head, School of performance and screen studies, Kingston UniversityProfessor Catherine Casey University of LeicesterClive Coen Professor of neuroscience, King’s College London; Chair, Rationalist AssociationProfessor Helen ColleyMargaret Cox Emerita professor of information technology in education, King’s College LondonProfessor Gill Crozier University of RoehamptonAnne Douglas Research professor Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, AberdeenProfessor Windy DrydenProfessor Richard Dyer King’s College London and St Andrews UniversityKathryn Ecclestone Professor of education, University of SheffieldEmeritus Professor Tony EdwardsJohn Elliott Emeritus professor of education, University of East AngliaKeri Facer Professor of educational and social futures, University of Bristol Colin Feltham Emeritus professor, Sheffield Hallam UniversityMichael Fielding Emeritus professor of education, University College London Institute of EducationProfessor Des Freedman Department of media and communications, Goldsmiths University of LondonEmeritus Professor Frank Furedi University of KentJohn Furlong Emeritus professor of education, University of OxfordMichael Gold Professor of comparative employment relations Royal Holloway University of LondonHarvey Goldstein Professor of social statistics, University of BristolDaniel Goodley Professor of disability studies and education, University of SheffieldIvor Goodson Professor of learning theory, University of BrightonProfessor Brendan Gough School of social psychological & communication sciences, Leeds Beckett UniversityDavid E Gray Professor of leadership and organisational behaviour, University of GreenwichProfessor Lucy Green UCL Institute of Education, LondonProfessor Susan Greenfield Professor Emeritus Carol Hall University of NottinghamProfessor Richard Hatcher Birmingham City UniversityDave Hill Research professor in education, Anglia Ruskin UniversityProfessor John Holford Robert Peers chair in adult education, University of NottinghamWendy Hollway Emeritus professor of psychologyRichard Hyman Emeritus professor of industrial relationsProfessor Carol Jones Law school, University of WolverhamptonRita Jordan Emeritus professor in autism studies, University of BirminghamStephen Joseph Professor, School of education, University of NottinghamProfessor Carolyn KaganTerence Karran Professor of higher education policyCelia Kitzinger Professor of conversation analysis in sociology, University of YorkDr Rebecca Lawthom Professor of community psychology, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityMarilyn Leask Professor of educational knowledge management, University of BedfordshireProfessor Simon Lilley Head, University of Leicester’s school of managementProfessor Ruth Lister Professor Ruth Lupton University of ManchesterMorag McDermont Professor of socio-legal studies, University of BristolProfessor Simon McGrath School of education, University of NottinghamMeg Maguire Professor of sociology of education, King’s College LondonProfessor Tim May Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures, University of SalfordProfessor Martin Milton Regents University LondonProfessor Louise Morley Director, Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research (CHEER), University of SussexProfessor Emeritus Janet Moyles Early years and play consultantMike Neary Professor of sociology, University of LincolnDany Nobus Professor of psychoanalytic psychology, Brunel University LondonMario Novelli Professor of education and social work, University of Sussex Ozlem Onaran Professor of workforce and economic development policy, University of GreenwichProfessor Charles OppenheimMarilyn Osborn Emeritus professor of education, University of BristolProfessor Jayne Osgood Centre for Education Research & Scholarship (CERS), Middlesex UniversityMartin Parker Professor of culture and organization, School of management, University of LeicesterProfessor Nigel Parton Applied childhood studies, University of Huddersfield Professor Ann Phoenix UCL Institute of EducationProfessor David Pilgrim University of LiverpoolProfessor Heather PiperJonathan Potter Professor of discourse analysis, Loughborough University Ivan Powis Professor of Chemical Physics University of NottinghamColin Richards Emeritus professor, University of CumbriaProfessor Susan L Robertson University of Bristol  Professor Nicholas Royle University of SussexProfessor Andrew Samuels University of EssexDerek Sayer Professor of cultural historyJohn Schostak Professor of education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityProfessor Lynne Segal Psychosocial studies, Birkbeck College, LondonPrem Sikka Professor of accounting, University of EssexProfessor Ernesto Spinelli ES AssociatesProfessor Corinne Squire Centre for Narrative Research, University of East LondonProfessor Jackie StaceyProfessor Guy Standing SOAS University of LondonPaul Stenner Professor of social psychology, The Open UniversityProfessor Howard Stevenson School of Education, University of NottinghamRichard Taylor Emeritus professorial fellow, Wolfson College, Cambridge UniversityLyn Tett Professor emerita, University of EdinburghProfessor Harold ThimblebyProfessor Brian Thorne University of East Anglia and the Norwich CentreLiz Todd Professor of educational inclusion, Newcastle UniversitySally Tomlinson Emeritus professor, Goldsmiths London Stan Tucker Professor of education and social policy, Graduate School, Newman UniversityMathias Urban Professor of early childhood, University of RoehamptonProfessor Isabella van Elferen Kingston University LondonValerie Walkerdine Distinguished research professor, Cardiff UniversityProfessor Tim Waller Anglia Ruskin University, CambridgeProfessor J Benjamin C Whitaker Head of physical chemistry, University of LeedsDr Stephen Whittle Professor of equalities lawProfessor Sue Wilkinson Social sciences, Loughborough UniversityProfessor Carla Willig City University LondonHugh Willmott Research professor in organization studies, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff UniversityDr Janet Wilson Professor of English and postcolonial studies, University of NorthamptonEmeritus Professor Richard MS Wilson Loughborough UniversityTerry Wrigley Visiting professor, Northumbria UniversityMichael Young Professor of education, UCL Institute of Education Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein University of ReadingProfessor Erica Burman University of ManchesterProfessor Ian Parker University of LeicesterDr Shaun Grech The Critical InstituteDr Richard House The Critical InstitutePeter Abbs Professor emeritus, University of SussexPatrick Ainley Professor of training and education, University of GreenwichPriscilla Alderson Professor emerita of childhood studies, UCL Institute of EducationDennis Atkinson Professor emeritus Goldsmiths University of LondonProfessor Jim Aulich Manchester Metropolitan University; Manchester School of ArtJames Avis Professor of PCET, School of Education, University of HuddersfieldStephen Ball Karl Mannheim Professor of sociology of education, Institute of Education/UCLBernard Barker Emeritus professor of education, University of LeicesterEmeritus Professor Michael Bassey Nottingham Trent UniversityProfessor Ann-Marie Bathmaker University of BirminghamTina Beattie Professor of Catholic studies, University of Roehampton LondonLori Beckett Professor of teacher education, Leeds Beckett UniversityProfessor Andrew Bennett Department of English, University of Bristol Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya Department of sociology, University of East LondonAndreas Bieler Professor of political economy, University of NottinghamProfessor Michael Billig Loughborough UniversityProfessor David Brauner Department of English literature, University of ReadingMarie Breen-Smyth Professor of international politics, University of SurreyRoger Brown Emeritus Professor of higher education policy, Liverpool Hope UniversityVanessa Burholt Professor of gerontology, Swansea UniversityProfessor Hugh Burkhardt University of Nottingham and UC BerkeleyProfessor Diana Burton Faculty of education health & wellbeing University of WolverhamptonProfessor Mark Burton Manchester Metropolitan UniversityProfessor Peter Buse Head, School of performance and screen studies, Kingston UniversityProfessor Catherine Casey University of LeicesterClive Coen Professor of neuroscience, King’s College London; Chair, Rationalist AssociationProfessor Helen ColleyMargaret Cox Emerita professor of information technology in education, King’s College LondonProfessor Gill Crozier University of RoehamptonAnne Douglas Research professor Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, AberdeenProfessor Windy DrydenProfessor Richard Dyer King’s College London and St Andrews UniversityKathryn Ecclestone Professor of education, University of SheffieldEmeritus Professor Tony EdwardsJohn Elliott Emeritus professor of education, University of East AngliaKeri Facer Professor of educational and social futures, University of Bristol Colin Feltham Emeritus professor, Sheffield Hallam UniversityMichael Fielding Emeritus professor of education, University College London Institute of EducationProfessor Des Freedman Department of media and communications, Goldsmiths University of LondonEmeritus Professor Frank Furedi University of KentJohn Furlong Emeritus professor of education, University of OxfordMichael Gold Professor of comparative employment relations Royal Holloway University of LondonHarvey Goldstein Professor of social statistics, University of BristolDaniel Goodley Professor of disability studies and education, University of SheffieldIvor Goodson Professor of learning theory, University of BrightonProfessor Brendan Gough School of social psychological & communication sciences, Leeds Beckett UniversityDavid E Gray Professor of leadership and organisational behaviour, University of GreenwichProfessor Lucy Green UCL Institute of Education, LondonProfessor Susan Greenfield Professor Emeritus Carol Hall University of NottinghamProfessor Richard Hatcher Birmingham City UniversityDave Hill Research professor in education, Anglia Ruskin UniversityProfessor John Holford Robert Peers chair in adult education, University of NottinghamWendy Hollway Emeritus professor of psychologyRichard Hyman Emeritus professor of industrial relationsProfessor Carol Jones Law school, University of WolverhamptonRita Jordan Emeritus professor in autism studies, University of BirminghamStephen Joseph Professor, School of education, University of NottinghamProfessor Carolyn KaganTerence Karran Professor of higher education policyCelia Kitzinger Professor of conversation analysis in sociology, University of YorkDr Rebecca Lawthom Professor of community psychology, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityMarilyn Leask Professor of educational knowledge management, University of BedfordshireProfessor Simon Lilley Head, University of Leicester’s school of managementProfessor Ruth Lister Professor Ruth Lupton University of ManchesterMorag McDermont Professor of socio-legal studies, University of BristolProfessor Simon McGrath School of education, University of NottinghamMeg Maguire Professor of sociology of education, King’s College LondonProfessor Tim May Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures, University of SalfordProfessor Martin Milton Regents University LondonProfessor Louise Morley Director, Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research (CHEER), University of SussexProfessor Emeritus Janet Moyles Early years and play consultantMike Neary Professor of sociology, University of LincolnDany Nobus Professor of psychoanalytic psychology, Brunel University LondonMario Novelli Professor of education and social work, University of Sussex Ozlem Onaran Professor of workforce and economic development policy, University of GreenwichProfessor Charles OppenheimMarilyn Osborn Emeritus professor of education, University of BristolProfessor Jayne Osgood Centre for Education Research & Scholarship (CERS), Middlesex UniversityMartin Parker Professor of culture and organization, School of management, University of LeicesterProfessor Nigel Parton Applied childhood studies, University of Huddersfield Professor Ann Phoenix UCL Institute of EducationProfessor David Pilgrim University of LiverpoolProfessor Heather PiperJonathan Potter Professor of discourse analysis, Loughborough University Ivan Powis Professor of Chemical Physics University of NottinghamColin Richards Emeritus professor, University of CumbriaProfessor Susan L Robertson University of Bristol Professor Nicholas Royle University of SussexProfessor Andrew Samuels University of EssexDerek Sayer Professor of cultural historyJohn Schostak Professor of education, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityProfessor Lynne Segal Psychosocial studies, Birkbeck College, LondonPrem Sikka Professor of accounting, University of EssexProfessor Ernesto Spinelli ES AssociatesProfessor Corinne Squire Centre for Narrative Research, University of East LondonProfessor Jackie StaceyProfessor Guy Standing SOAS University of LondonPaul Stenner Professor of social psychology, The Open UniversityProfessor Howard Stevenson School of Education, University of NottinghamRichard Taylor Emeritus professorial fellow, Wolfson College, Cambridge UniversityLyn Tett Professor emerita, University of EdinburghProfessor Harold ThimblebyProfessor Brian Thorne University of East Anglia and the Norwich CentreLiz Todd Professor of educational inclusion, Newcastle UniversitySally Tomlinson Emeritus professor, Goldsmiths London Stan Tucker Professor of education and social policy, Graduate School, Newman UniversityMathias Urban Professor of early childhood, University of RoehamptonProfessor Isabella van Elferen Kingston University LondonValerie Walkerdine Distinguished research professor, Cardiff UniversityProfessor Tim Waller Anglia Ruskin University, CambridgeProfessor J Benjamin C Whitaker Head of physical chemistry, University of LeedsDr Stephen Whittle Professor of equalities lawProfessor Sue Wilkinson Social sciences, Loughborough UniversityProfessor Carla Willig City University LondonHugh Willmott Research professor in organization studies, Cardiff Business School, Cardiff UniversityDr Janet Wilson Professor of English and postcolonial studies, University of NorthamptonEmeritus Professor Richard MS Wilson Loughborough UniversityTerry Wrigley Visiting professor, Northumbria UniversityMichael Young Professor of education, UCL Institute of Education
• The list of signatories above was amended on 7 July 2015. An earlier version omitted the first five names.