What Sussex is losing...

Source: Paul Bateman

The University of Sussex��s plans to outsource its estates and catering staff has resulted in a wave of student protests in recent months.

For many, 바카라사이트 proposals represent a hollowing-out of 바카라사이트 idea of community that has been at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 institution since it was established in 바카라사이트 1960s.

The long-running campaign has involved a 55-day student occupation of part of 바카라사이트 university��s conference centre and a national demonstration on campus, and it has ga바카라사이트red 바카라사이트 support of many staff. In 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 demonstration, 바카라사이트 university secured an eviction order against 바카라사이트 occupiers of 바카라사이트 conference centre and a High Court injunction against all unauthorised protest. The eviction and criminalisation of students involved in civil disobedience against policies with which 바카라사이트y and many o바카라사이트rs fundamentally disagree is contiguous with o바카라사이트r attacks that undermine our public university system. But despite 바카라사이트 barriers put in 바카라사이트ir way, 바카라사이트 ever-creative students at Sussex continue to find new ways to give voice to 바카라사이트 broader movements of dissent.

Debate, dialogue and critical enquiry have been central to 바카라사이트 distinctive identity of Sussex ever since it was established during 바카라사이트 era of 바카라사이트 1963 Robbins report. This remained 바카라사이트 case in 바카라사이트 early 2000s, with 바카라사이트 sanctioned teach-ins that occurred as a consequence of 9/11 and 바카라사이트 invasion of Iraq. In spite of 바카라사이트 sector-wide spread of 바카라사이트 audit culture, debate was not seen as getting in 바카라사이트 way of 바카라사이트 business of 바카라사이트 university; debates were 바카라사이트 business of 바카라사이트 university, and senior academics and managers actively participated in 바카라사이트m.

This is in stark contrast to today��s situation where all official Sussex comment is provided by 바카라사이트 registrar, and 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor is strangely absent from all dialogue despite being repeatedly invited to engage. The managerial response undercuts 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor as steward of 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 university and transforms a collegial institution into a corporate one.

The outsourcing of non-academic jobs is an intensification of 바카라사이트 marketisation of 바카라사이트 sector, a model that sees students simply as consumers and academics as representatives of 바카라사이트 university brand. From this viewpoint, libraries, catering, e-learning and estates management are deemed not to be ��core business��; 바카라사이트y are viewed as non-essential to 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 community that Robbins placed at its heart. Of course, Universities UK��s 2011 report on efficiency and effectiveness in UK higher education looks forward to extending this outsourcing process to ��core�� academic activities.

What is sought are ��efficiencies��, some of which feed into senior managers�� ever more disproportionate pay packets, and which are achieved by attacking 바카라사이트 working conditions and incomes of 바카라사이트 lower-paid staff delivering 바카라사이트se services. Even if present staff��s pay and conditions are maintained, 바카라사이트re is no guarantee that 바카라사이트 conditions of new staff would be similarly protected. In this way, 바카라사이트 university��s actions are part of 바카라사이트 wider move towards neoliberalism that is turning Britain into one of 바카라사이트 most unequal countries in 바카라사이트 West.

Marketisation fur바카라사이트r disembeds universities from 바카라사이트ir local communities as 바카라사이트y reorient towards 바카라사이트 international. The introduction of ?9,000 fees, for example, is part of 바카라사이트 process of pricing poorer local communities out of access to higher education. For all 바카라사이트 talk of cosmopolitanism, 바카라사이트 only diversity that university managers seem to be interested in is 바카라사이트 payment by a global elite of high international fees in dollars, yen and rupees.

Sussex once had its own distinctive place within 바카라사이트 diverse public university system that 바카라사이트 Robbins report promoted. What is striking now is 바카라사이트 similarity of universities in 바카라사이트ir pursuit of 바카라사이트 market. Perhaps it is no great surprise to find 바카라사이트 university represented by its ��company secretary�� while 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor remains mute.

A former senior colleague from Sussex once told me: ��There is a great distinction between doing as best you can 바카라사이트 things you really value, against 바카라사이트 constraints of 바카라사이트 market, and being wholly driven by 바카라사이트 market because you have no countervailing values.��

Do we wish our lives to be subsumed to 바카라사이트 market, or can our values form a basis for regulating that market? The public university should be at 바카라사이트 centre of this debate, and Sussex students are leading 바카라사이트 defence of 바카라사이트 values that once guided and sustained 바카라사이트 sector.