The rather cryptic and anodyne HEFCE press release of 23 April is translated to the stark and painful reality of an advertisement in yesterday's UK Financial Times. “Expressions of interests are invited in relation to the business and assets of UK eUniversities Worldwide Limited (�UKeU�)
The Company has invested a substantial amount in designing and developing a bespoke learning platform and infrastructure which is capable of handling delivery to thousands of students around the world on a 24/7 basis. The platform has been designed to reflect the needs of the UK higher education sector but has the potential to be sold to other sectors and in other territories.”
UKeU developed the 'learning platform', which the Observatory in Borderless Higher Education article of 23 April described as 'incomplete', with its commercial partner, Sun Microsystems.
Can we assume, therefore, that, should any expression of interest convert to an actual sale, that all of the income will find it's way back to the sector, or at least the public purse? Or are Sun, or any other parties, likely to exercise a claim?
