Higher Education

Speaking of Universities - book review

Stefan Collini offers a robust critique of the neoliberal academy, but we need an oppositional university as an alternative, argues Oliver Eagleton
Labour must not fall behind on education

Although Labour's NES proposal was a radical idea 18 months ago, Holly Rigby argues they are falling behind the Lib Dems on education policy
UCU: we are the union

The annual UCU conference has begun and the leadership, unwilling to accept criticism, has acted anti-democratically and with contempt of its members reports Des Freedman
UCU pensions dispute: the battle is over, but the fight continues

UCU members recently voted to suspend industrial action; the action may be on pause but the dispute is far from over.
After Windrush: this racist government must go - Counterfire Freesheet May 2018

Windrush, May 68, Palestine, UCU strike, Marx and more - Counterfire freesheet edition 025, May 2018
University workers' statement on UCU ballot result

The strike is over: our fight is not
The case to vote 'no' in the UCU ballot and how we can win

As university workers vote in a ballot on UUK's latest offer, Lee Jones explains why they should vote no and how the campaign to reject the deal can win
Vote NO: university workers call to reject proposed deal

Lecturers and supporters met at a national activists meeting today to discuss the campaign to reject UUK's proposed deal
Reject the UUK deal: we need to fight now

In this open letter, university workers from across the country argue that we cannot accept the deal as it stands, and must fight for a No vote
Update on university pensions dispute

These motions, passed at various branches, offer a guide as to how we should approach the dispute at this critical moment
University strikes: employers’ retreat needs to be nailed down

As UUK returns with a further offer, Des Freedman takes a look at the immediate options facing university staff involved in the dispute
The UCU dispute: a lesson in the power of collective action

Solidarity among UCU strikers was not born on social media, but on the mass activity of the picket line, argues Milly Williamson
We're not going to take it any more - statement from precarious staff at the University of Kent

Following the UCU strike against pension cuts, precarious staff at the University of Kent release a statement demanding no pay cuts for strike action for already poorly paid staff
Time's up Theresa - Counterfire Freesheet March 2018

Brexit, Corbyn and the Labour right, gender pay gap, commodification of universities and more...
Lecturers' strike: the rank and file have spoken, now we have to take the lead

Feyzi Ismail reports from outside UCU headquarters as the union’s Higher Education Committee votes to reject the employers’ derisory offer
Time's up Theresa

With the country in chaos, we need change now - keep up the pressure!
Lecturers' strike update: no capitulation

Des Freedman and Vladimir Unkovski-Korica explain why the deal between UCU and UUK is bad one and should be rejected
Lecturers' strike update: together we can win

As the lecturers' stike enters its final week, a lecturer explains what we have achieved and what we still need to do
Lecturers' strike update: students at Reading University begin occupation

Joining a wave of student occupations that look set to escalate this week, students at Reading University have begun an occupation in solildarity with striking lecturers
Student Occupations Live #OccupyUUK

Live updates of students occupying university buildings in solidarity with striking lecturers. #UCUstrike #StrikeForUSS
The lecturers' strikes started in winter but are finishing in spring - weekly briefing

University staff and students have shown that committed and passionate resistance is possible and neccesary, finds Des Freedman
From a community of scholars to purveyor of degrees: the changing face of the university

Universities are spending money on buildings and not learning and teaching, finds Susan Newman
Lecturers' strike update: inside the occupation at Exeter University

Now on the third day of #ExeterOccupy in support of striking lecturers, Theseus Stefanatos and Alex Rafael Rose report on the action students are taking and why
Lecturers strike massive blow

The UCU strike is not just about pensions. It is an opportunity to fight for a new vision for Higher Education, argues Milly Williamson
Lecturers' strike: interview with a QMU striker

A UCU striker at Queen Mary University speaks to Katherine Connelly about the ongoing dispute
Lecturers' strike update: students occupy in Bristol, Exeter and Leicester

In solidarity with striking lecturers and opposing further marketisation of higher education, students begin occupying management offices reports Jack Hazeldine
Lecturers' strike: Deepen the action, spread the support

As the strike continues, we must up the ante, argues Des Freedman
Time for Action - UCU Strike

John McDonnell has released a video saying UCU strikers have "absolute solidarity" from Labour. Jack Hazeldine lays out the next steps
Against the marketisation of our education

Rather than calling for compensation for lost teaching time, students should stand in full solidarity with university and college staff
Lecturers' strike report: students show their support

On the 5th day of the UCU strike, picket lines stayed strong despite the weather and students came out in force to show their support
Europe: why retreat must not turn into defeat for the left - weekly briefing

Lindsey German analyses Jeremy Corbyn's speech on Brexit, as well as the importance of the UCU strike and the growing movement against the NRA in the US
What you can do to support the lecturers' strike

As the strike continues we must keep the pressure on, argues Chris Nineham
Lecturers' strike updates: Striking to win

As the UCU strike carries on into its 4th day, we put together some short reports from picket lines around the country
Bristol leads the way in supporting striking university staff - photos

After a huge mobilisation to support striking lecturers on the first day of the strike, Bristolians took to the streets again to show solidarity reports Jack Hazeldine
Forget the Arctic conditions: our universities are on fire

The UCU strike has the potential to rebuild the campaign against the marketisation of our higher education, writes Des Freedman
Lecturers' strike day two: ‘The things we have, we fought for on cold days like these’

Another day on the picket line as, across the country, striking lecturers put the pressure on
Biggest ever strike in higher education? UCU members prepare to defend pensions

As education workers get ready to strike, Des Freedman, a professor at Goldsmiths University, tells us what we can do to support them
Can Vince Cable save the Lib Dems?

What does the future hold for the party?
The Econocracy: The Perils of Leaving Economics to the Experts

The Econocracy calls for reform and democratisation of the field of Economics so that it may suit the present needs of our society, finds Orlando Hill
If you fight you can win: victory for fractional staff at SOAS
$fractionals protest$
The success of the SOAS campaign will hopefully inspire other precarious workers across the sector
The great academy rip off

The free market in education is a disaster, and children are paying the price, writes Judy Cox
E.P. Thompson on how to save the university

Over four decades ago, the Marxist historian called for resistance against the commercialisation of higher education
SOAS and the fight against precarity

Reporting the extent of precarity across the university sector in Britain is welcome but precarious work needs to end now, argues Carrie Benjamin
Student demo: a cause for optimism

The noisy demonstration in defence of higher education that took place in London could pave the way for the re-emergence of the student movement
The Capitalist University
Durham Teaching Assistants: enough is enough

Teaching Assistants in Durham won't accept a pay cut imposed by the council, writes Lizzy Anderson
Lecturers' strike: fighting for fairness and the future

Higher education (HE) workers across the country took the first of two consecutive days' strike action in the campaign for fair pay. Graham Kirkwood reports
Chilean student movement: back in the streets for free education

As the Tories announce plans to remove the cap on tuition fees, Hector Rios looks at how Chilean education was marketised, and how students are resisting
Five years on from Millbank, who are the real vandals?

Des Freedman argues that the government’s new green paper signals an even more deregulated, profit-driven HE sector
Sandy Nicoll reinstated at SOAS: the strength of solidarity

Standing together in solidarity at SOAS has overturned management’s suspension of Sandy Nicoll
Students and staff shut down SOAS

The shutdown at SOAS today over the suspension of Sandy Nicoll is a sign of the battles ahead. But it could also be the beginning of a movement against cuts in higher education more generally

Higher Education

Higher Education

Stefan Collini offers a robust critique of the neoliberal academy, but we need an oppositional university as an alternative, argues Oliver Eagleton

Although Labour's NES proposal was a radical idea 18 months ago, Holly Rigby argues they are falling behind the Lib Dems on education policy

The annual UCU conference has begun and the leadership, unwilling to accept criticism, has acted anti-democratically and with contempt of its members reports Des Freedman

UCU members recently voted to suspend industrial action; the action may be on pause but the dispute is far from over.

Windrush, May 68, Palestine, UCU strike, Marx and more - Counterfire freesheet edition 025, May 2018

The strike is over: our fight is not

As university workers vote in a ballot on UUK's latest offer, Lee Jones explains why they should vote no and how the campaign to reject the deal can win

Lecturers and supporters met at a national activists meeting today to discuss the campaign to reject UUK's proposed deal

In this open letter, university workers from across the country argue that we cannot accept the deal as it stands, and must fight for a No vote

These motions, passed at various branches, offer a guide as to how we should approach the dispute at this critical moment

As UUK returns with a further offer, Des Freedman takes a look at the immediate options facing university staff involved in the dispute

Solidarity among UCU strikers was not born on social media, but on the mass activity of the picket line, argues Milly Williamson

Following the UCU strike against pension cuts, precarious staff at the University of Kent release a statement demanding no pay cuts for strike action for already poorly paid staff

Brexit, Corbyn and the Labour right, gender pay gap, commodification of universities and more...

Feyzi Ismail reports from outside UCU headquarters as the union’s Higher Education Committee votes to reject the employers’ derisory offer

With the country in chaos, we need change now - keep up the pressure!

Des Freedman and Vladimir Unkovski-Korica explain why the deal between UCU and UUK is bad one and should be rejected

As the lecturers' stike enters its final week, a lecturer explains what we have achieved and what we still need to do

Joining a wave of student occupations that look set to escalate this week, students at Reading University have begun an occupation in solildarity with striking lecturers

Live updates of students occupying university buildings in solidarity with striking lecturers. #UCUstrike #StrikeForUSS

University staff and students have shown that committed and passionate resistance is possible and neccesary, finds Des Freedman

Universities are spending money on buildings and not learning and teaching, finds Susan Newman

Now on the third day of #ExeterOccupy in support of striking lecturers, Theseus Stefanatos and Alex Rafael Rose report on the action students are taking and why

The UCU strike is not just about pensions. It is an opportunity to fight for a new vision for Higher Education, argues Milly Williamson

A UCU striker at Queen Mary University speaks to Katherine Connelly about the ongoing dispute

In solidarity with striking lecturers and opposing further marketisation of higher education, students begin occupying management offices reports Jack Hazeldine

As the strike continues, we must up the ante, argues Des Freedman

John McDonnell has released a video saying UCU strikers have "absolute solidarity" from Labour. Jack Hazeldine lays out the next steps

Rather than calling for compensation for lost teaching time, students should stand in full solidarity with university and college staff

On the 5th day of the UCU strike, picket lines stayed strong despite the weather and students came out in force to show their support

Lindsey German analyses Jeremy Corbyn's speech on Brexit, as well as the importance of the UCU strike and the growing movement against the NRA in the US

As the strike continues we must keep the pressure on, argues Chris Nineham

As the UCU strike carries on into its 4th day, we put together some short reports from picket lines around the country

After a huge mobilisation to support striking lecturers on the first day of the strike, Bristolians took to the streets again to show solidarity reports Jack Hazeldine

The UCU strike has the potential to rebuild the campaign against the marketisation of our higher education, writes Des Freedman

Another day on the picket line as, across the country, striking lecturers put the pressure on

As education workers get ready to strike, Des Freedman, a professor at Goldsmiths University, tells us what we can do to support them

What does the future hold for the party?

The Econocracy calls for reform and democratisation of the field of Economics so that it may suit the present needs of our society, finds Orlando Hill

The success of the SOAS campaign will hopefully inspire other precarious workers across the sector

The free market in education is a disaster, and children are paying the price, writes Judy Cox

Over four decades ago, the Marxist historian called for resistance against the commercialisation of higher education

Reporting the extent of precarity across the university sector in Britain is welcome but precarious work needs to end now, argues Carrie Benjamin

The noisy demonstration in defence of higher education that took place in London could pave the way for the re-emergence of the student movement

Teaching Assistants in Durham won't accept a pay cut imposed by the council, writes Lizzy Anderson

Higher education (HE) workers across the country took the first of two consecutive days' strike action in the campaign for fair pay. Graham Kirkwood reports

As the Tories announce plans to remove the cap on tuition fees, Hector Rios looks at how Chilean education was marketised, and how students are resisting

Des Freedman argues that the government’s new green paper signals an even more deregulated, profit-driven HE sector

Standing together in solidarity at SOAS has overturned management’s suspension of Sandy Nicoll

The shutdown at SOAS today over the suspension of Sandy Nicoll is a sign of the battles ahead. But it could also be the beginning of a movement against cuts in higher education more generally

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