The following motion was carried at the branch extraordinary general meeting 25 February 2025 so is agreed collective policy (unless a more recent motion has superseded it). The text here is subject to approval of the minutes of that meeting and the approved minutes will be the correct version.

This branch notes:

• the HE sector is in a funding crisis
• that 1,000 job cuts have been announced across the sector, with announcements from 87 institutions
• universities have become overly dependent on international student fees
• the large gap between corporate-level pay for VCs and colleagues on low grades
• the hostile environment for international students and their families makes the UK a less attractive destination
• while UoL is currently not planning redundancies many colleagues on insecure contracts are already risking or losing their jobs

The branch believes that

• the marketized model of HE weakens the sector threatening the value of education
• the university should be truly open to international students as well widen participation from local disadvantage communities
• an ‘extractivist’ approach towards applicants from developing countries is neither ethical nor sustainable
• that the commoditisation of education has detrimental impact on worker conditions

The branch resolves to

• contribute to UCU’s “Reclaim HE” campaign and demand a clear lobbying strategy to increase public funding for universities
• demand ongoing consultation and transparent reporting on the University’s financial situation.
• pressurise management to prioritise job saving and to cut inefficiencies
• increase scholarship and opportunities for both local and international students
• show active solidarity (donations/demonstrations) to other universities already affected by redundancies
• campaign against the hostile environment, which is having a detrimental impact on our sector and worsen migrant students and migrant workers’ conditions

(227 words.) Proposed by Gabriella Alberti and Jane Holgate. Moved by Gabriella Alberti, seconded by Jenny Rivas Perez. The motion was carried.