Keep private pirates at bay (1 of 2)

Matt Robb tells us that with the new tuition fees regime, higher education in England and Wales will become "Treasure Island" to for-profit firms ("Here be treasure, but sector unprepared for private raiding parties", 12 May).

No surprise there then, considering that the government has given the green light to these pirates to cherry-pick the most profitable courses and leave the rest to be run down by the state.

It is essential that the sector come together to counter the for-profit threat, which represents an attempt to commodify education and leave standing only that which makes a profit. I urge our mission groups, think tanks and vice-chancellors to put their differences aside and unite at last to fight this attempt to privatise knowledge.

Sally Hunt, General secretary, University and College Union