Ever since British universities became a “market”, they’ve adopted market ethics; especially – but not exclusively – the lower-status, and so more vulnerable, ones. Universities, as communities of staff and students engaged in study, have long questioned the measures imposed on us. In this context, the “fact that academic freedom was now written into law” is more concern than comfort. In other words, in the act, “academic freedom” is not the freedom of the academic to do their job but the freedom of their employer to hire and fire them as they please. Regenia GagnierProfessor of English, University of Exeter• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Source: The Guardian November 16, 2017 18:22 UTC