Massive tuition fees will impose a lifelong financial burden on students. But the damage will not stop here. The government wants to turn education into something to be bought and sold.

Teaching, learning and research cannot be purchased. They depend on active interaction.

But the politicians and university managers are trying to turn students into passive consumers and staff into service providers, pitting them against each other. They value marketing and branding more than critical thought and academic independence. This conference is about uniting staff and students in defence of our universities.

It will take place between the TUC march against austerity and the NUS education demonstration. It will draw on inspirational struggles from across the world and prvide arguments and analyses to strengthen resistance against the contamination of education by the market.

Speakers so far include: John Holmwood Campaign for the Public University; Alex Callinicos; Priyamvada Gopal Cambridge University; Peter Hallward Philosopher; Alfie Meadows injured student protester; Vicki Baars NUS VP Union Development; Andrew McGettigan Critical Education blog; Kelley Temple NUS Women’s Officer; Jim Wolfreys KCL UCU; leading student & trade union activists from across Britain & the world

Initial supporters include: Campaign for the Public University, Postgraduate Worker Association, Liverpool Guild of Students, Essex Students’ Union, Goldsmiths Students’ Union, Young Greens, Student Broad Left, Woodcraft Folk, Defend the Right to Protest