Universities in the UK are under threat.
We believe that these changes to the way universities operate and are governed pose a risk to a university’s central function, which is to gather knowledge, free from interference, and to educate people in the skills they need to think critically and independently.
We believe that it’s time to fight back. At the heart of our campaign is a desire to resist the marketisation of higher education. Marketisation takes many forms – below are three areas where we believe it has been especially pernicious.
This short paper articulates the nature and importance of academic freedom as a public good and highlights the contemporary challenges it faces. In the light of recent national discussions, it also sets out suggestions for protecting academic freedom, including a model ordinance that individual institutions might adopt to assert institutional autonomy in upholding this essential principle.
On the tenth anniversary of its formation The Council for the Defence of British Universities invited submissions of essays on key challenges facing Higher Education in the UK today and possible solutions to them. The winner was awarded a £1,000 prize.
Click the link below to read the winning essay!
CLICK HEREThe Council for the Defence of British Universities is proud to fund research into many aspects of higher education in the UK, including governance, policy, curricula developments, and staff and student welfare and wellbeing.
Click the link below to read about the projects CDBU is currently funding!
CLICK HEREThis short paper articulates the nature and importance of academic freedom as a public good and highlights the contemporary challenges it faces. In the light of recent national discussions, it also sets out suggestions for protecting academic freedom, including a model ordinance that individual institutions might adopt to assert institutional autonomy in upholding this essential principle.
