You'll see a lot of media coverage of strikes by university academic staff in the next weeks; so, whatever the immediate/local causes of industrial action, the underlying (albeit linked) factors are these: 1. the Govt. & political class no longer really value a strong university sector & treat it merely as a unprofitable personal service; 2. Universities' senior management have lost sight of the fact that their academic staff are vital to their institutions success. #universities #politics