UCU protests Open University's Cuban student ban

UCU has written to both the vice-chancellor of the Open University and universities minister Jo Johnson to call for a ban on Cuban students attending the Open University to be overturned.

The university says its policy is justified on the basis of concerns about repercussions from the United States. However, as UCU points out in its letter to Peter Horrocks, that puts it directly at odds with the UK government's position on Cuba.

The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and Cuba says there should be improvements in the links between universities in the two countries.

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'There is no justification for not accepting Cuban students on a course, and any move to stop anyone would be directly at odds with current UK government policy on cooperating with Cuba on higher education issues, particularly around teaching English.

'I have written to both Open University vice-chancellor Peter Horrocks and universities minister Jo Johnson calling for the ban to be overturned.'

For more information please visit the Cuba Solidarity Campaign website.