Marketisation of education

Aims

To make it clear that we believe students should not be viewed as customers and that universities should be run as a public good and not as a business.
To stand in continued opposition to the universities engagement with the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework).

More Info

We believe that the government and university managers need NSS results not only to implement the TEF, but to manage the already-existing marketisation of the university system. A motion was passed at SRC #3 (2018 NSS Boycott) that encourages fourth year students to boycott the NSS and argues that the NSS only further pushes the narrative of competition between universities rather than supporting the values of an open and collaborative education. By refusing to fill it out, we can therefore disrupt their business and gain leverage that helps students push them to concede to our campaign. A motion was also passed at SRC #1 in support of the national demonstration for free education that took place in London in November 2017 (Demonstration for Education).

We also recognise that solidarity between university staff and students is vital and that the working conditions of staff at Abertay are the learning conditions of our students. Staff living precariously in is of no benefit to staff or students at Abertay. A motion was passed at SRC #5 that extends support and solidarity to the Abertay UCU (the academic trade union) in the issues that they currently face with the university - (Support Abertay UCU)