Sir, Oxford University’s decision to reject plans to alter the way it is governed (report, “Dons reject plan to halt 900 years of self-rule by Oxford”, Nov 28) is good news for those who share our concerns about external and commercial interests increasingly dominating universities’ affairs.

Financial and commercial advice can add great value but those interests can never be put ahead of the need to secure academic excellence and academic freedom. We are pleased these proposals have been rejected, but remain extremely concerned about the way scores of the country’s universities are run.

Too many institutions’ governing bodies are made up of business people and senior managers, with little representation from the people affected most by their decisions — staff and students. There is too little transparency and accountability in the decision-making process at many universities.

We urgently need a full and open debate about the future of university governance throughout the whole country. Maintaining the status quo at many institutions will lead to the closure of more strategically important departments and allow those with vested interests and little academic background to ride roughshod over our proud global academic reputation.

SALLY HUNT
Joint general secretary
University and College Union

Sir, Many of those who voted against the so-called reforms, as I did, were not necessarily opposed to external participation in the university’s governance in accordance with legal requirements. However, we felt that the (confused) proposals were such as to strengthen the central executive authorities in the university, on the lines of an outdated and stale managerialism of a kind that has greatly damaged other universities here and in other countries.

JAMES CAMPBELL
Witney, Oxon

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