LU General Assembly Report
At the request of Loughborough UCU, a General Assembly was held on the 6th of June, specifically to discuss the University’s plans for a partnership with Saudi Arabia. This had been described as “an in-country teaching delivery offer” which raises major concerns about the rights and freedoms of staff and students who would be employed or studying there. Of particular concern to the campus unions is the fact that unions do not exist in Saudi Arabia. This has the potential for the project to fundamentally undermine the Partnership and Recognition Agreement, which defines our relationship with the University and in which “all parties recognise the value to good employee relations of staff being properly represented by one of the recognised unions”. Academic Freedom, and the lack thereof in Saudi Arabia, is also a crucial issue.
In both cases creating a Loughborough entity with such radically different conditions and context threatens not only the safety and wellbeing of members of the University in Saudi Arabia, but also has the potential to set precedents for poorer conditions for our staff more generally. Our concerns were articulated in a motion submitted to the General Assembly, which was overwhelmingly supported by the meeting, and subsequently communicated to University Council. Support came from staff across the university and at all levels.
We are told that a final decision on whether to pursue this partnership, and in what form, will be taken by University Council in November. LUCU will continue to push hard to ensure that our concerns are taken seriously, and that the University does not become complicit in sportswashing and human rights abuses.