Sir, Your leading article (“Not academic”, Mar 5) suggests that it is wrong to provide UK education opportunities for the citizens of Libya and any other undemocratic country. The basic principle of the UK education system is to open and broaden students’ minds and to train them to think for themselves. They will be the future leaders in their countries.
Educating young people either at UK universities here or by providing UK education overseas is exactly what we should be doing to help to develop democracies elsewhere. Your suggestion that British industry, civil servants or management consultants are in a better position than our universities to influence the Libyan regime is ludicrous. Recent history demonstrates the power of academics and students to effect change.
It is wrong to label all our universities as being interested only in the money such links bring; many UK university staff are passionately committed to help developing countries and see education and training as a critical element in moving them towards democracy and the observance of human rights. We should be encouraging, not villifying them.
Marie Niven
Etchingham, E Sussex