Staff Assembly passes motions against green paper and Prevent

University of Warwick staff have passed two motions in their assembly held on 11 March 2016, condemning the government’s Higher Education green paper motion and Prevent strategy.

Over 100 members of staff from across the University met for the assembly where the motions were voted on.

The green paper was published by the government in November 2015 calling for various changes to universities, including teaching excellence, social mobility and student choice. It has come under intensive scrutiny since then.

The argument follows that the green paper forces universities to prioritise marketisation, rather than the education they are providing. These are the grounds on which the majority of staff present at the Assembly chose to condemn it.

Similarly, the government’s Prevent strategy – which calls on schools and universities to monitor student behaviour and report any signs of radicalisation – has been increasingly criticised.

The assembly today argued that Prevent is discriminatory and targets Muslim and black and minority ethnic students to a disproportionate level.

117 members of academic and administrative staff voted in the green paper motion, while 114 voted in the Prevent motion.

Both were passed with resounding majorities: 98 were in favour of condemning the green paper, with 96 in favour of condemning Prevent.

These motions are now to be passed to the Senate Steering Committee. They are also deemed as a call to the vice chancellor Stuart Croft to condemn both the policies himself.

Dr Justine Mercer, associate professor for the Centre for Education Studies, told the Independent: “The Prevent strategy damages our community by fostering an environment of surveillance, paranoia, and racism.

“It encourages the continual monitoring of both staff and students. It destroys the trust needed for a safe and supportive learning environment.”

Hope Worsdale, education officer-elect for Warwick Students’ Union, also commented to the Independent: “Students are delighted by the outcome of the Assembly and will continue in their actions, alongside staff, to campaign for a free and progressive education system.”

You can read a Boar response to the green paper here.

You can find the University’s current guidelines for Prevent at Warwick here.