British universities and staff are understandably concerned at the potential opening of the home market to foreign competition - possibly at the British taxpayer's expense - implicit in the General Agreement on Trade in Servies. Curiously, there is less idea of doing the same themselves in othercountries, despite the high regard for UK higher education around the world.

The worry is only partly about the money that new entrants to the UK market might remove from existing universities. Harder to cope
with will be the new ethos that Gats envisages for higher education, in which corporate delivery of a definable outcome is likely to be favoured over a personal educational experience. The problem, in part, is that Gats does not distinguish between higher education
and fully commercial services where consumers have a genuine interest in reducing protectionism.

While schools are regarded as a valid cultural concern for states, and as a human right for children, universities are not. Some
recognition that they are part of the cultural and economic mainstream, and not just a service industry, might make Gats more acceptable and encourage universities to seize opportunities rather than defend their existing positions.

22.02.2002 The Times

Academic freedom threat from Gats plan

Higher education in the United Kingdom will be threatened if it is included in global moves to liberalise service industries, Universities
Scotland has warned.

Scotland's principals say that bringing higher education under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (Gats) could open its
funding to market competition, making the driving force financial rather than educational.

Liberalisation of trade in the sector could outlaw internal cross-subsidies in universities, which would harm teaching, and undermine quality regulations.

A letter to the Scottish Executive from Universities Scotland director David Caldwell says: "Universities Scotland believes that the primary purpose of higher education is to promote learning and create knowledge and not profit for shareholders."

The letter comes amid fears that Universities UK is under pressure from the Department of Trade and Industry to support Gats.

A UUK spokesperson said it had had a "constructive dialogue" with the DTI and Department for Education and Skills about
including higher education in the Gats negotiations. UUK would "consult members nationally for their views" and would give
"a common nationwide response to the government in March".

The Association of University Teachers and National Union of Students have been lobbying the DfES, warning against higher education being categorised as a "commercial activity".

They have been heartened by Universities Scotland's stance. They hope vice-chancellors across the country will follow its lead.

Sally Hunt, AUT assistant general secretary, said: "Unless there is a brake on the unrestricted intervention of the free market
into higher education, then we can say goodbye to the notion of academic freedom."

The AUT has urged the DFES at the very least to investigate the potential impact of Gats.

Olga Wojtas
Scottish Editor

22.02.2002: The Times