Into threatens to sue UCU

The private English Language company, Into has threatened to sue the University and College Union (UCU) in the latest development in the row over the English Language teaching market and, what UCU sees as the privatisation of Higher Education.

The 240,000 overseas students in the UK are worth £8.5 billion to the sector every year and Into is keen to stake a claim in this lucrative market. The company works privately with universities’ language departments to train overseas students in English before they begin degrees at British universities.

UCU is opposed working with Into. A briefing on the UCU website says the company is trying to ‘turn a quick profit’ with little interest in higher education and that working with them could damage quality of education and harm universities’ reputation.

In response, Into has threatened to sue UCU for defamation unless the briefing is removed and they receive a written apology.

A UCU spokesman told University Business: “We will of course consider carefully any letter we receive relating to INTO or any other education provider. UCU's priority remains as ever defending the interests of staff and their students and the quality of higher education itself."