UCLAN bosses say status change won't lead to privatisation (From Lancashire Telegraph)

UCLAN bosses say status change won't lead to privatisation

10:33am Friday 25th January 2013 in News

UNIVERSITY of Central Lancashire bosses have denied that changing its status will result in the institution being ‘privatised’.

Union officials claim moves to make UCLan a company limited by guarantee will not affect its educational mission.

Vice-chancellor Malcolm McVicar said that such a company could not be compared to operations governed by shareholders.

He said: “The possible move to a CLG is neither ‘privatisation’ nor a prelude to ‘privatisation’.

“Any such move would be incompatible with the mission, objectives and charitable status of the university.

“It would also be in contradiction to the stated objectives of the university board. The status and role of the academic board would also remain unchanged.”

He said the board of UCLan, which has a campus in Burnley, would ‘not contemplate any move to a CLG if that had any negative impact on the position of staff and students’.