Dr Bianca de Haan (Brunel University)

Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Brunel University of London  

Election address 

I am a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Brunel University of London and Branch Chair of Brunel UCU. Over the past year, I have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of the current UK Higher Education funding model. At Brunel, 20-25% of staff — both academic and professional service — left in the last year due to redundancy schemes. I was among those placed at risk, and a quarter of my departmental colleagues were lost. These mass redundancies have severely damaged both the student experience and staff working conditions.  

This is not an isolated case — it reflects a national crisis. Universities are being forced to operate like businesses, prioritising financial survival over education and research. If we do not act now, the erosion of our sector will accelerate, and the values that underpin Higher Education will be lost. I believe the only way to halt — and ultimately reverse — this destruction is to stand up and fight together.  

I passionately believe that education is a right, not a privilege. Widening participation and promoting social mobility are essential for a fair society. An educated population benefits everyone — it drives economic growth, improves living standards, and strengthens communities. Universities should be places of opportunity, not profit-driven corporations. We need to restore the principle that education serves the public good.  

If elected to the NEC, I will fight for:  

• More Representative Decision-Making  

UCU decision-making must better reflect the views of our members. Decisions currently too often rest on a narrow base of support, which limits our strength. We need to broaden engagement and bring the majority with us, because we cannot win without unity. Listening to members and building consensus will be at the heart of my approach.  

• Stronger Collaboration with Students  

The crisis in UK HE harms both staff and students. Staff face unsustainable workloads, falling real-terms pay, and growing job insecurity, while students struggle with rising tuition fees, inadequate loan support, and reduced university services. We must stand together to defend the future of Higher Education. A united front will make our demands harder to ignore.  

• A Smarter Industrial Strategy  

Traditional strike action is losing effectiveness and is increasingly unaffordable during a cost-of-living crisis. We need to explore new strategies — such as coordinated lobbying of government alongside students, targeted campaigns, and creative forms of collective action — to make our voice impossible to ignore. This discussion is urgent, and I will ensure it happens.  

If elected, I will work tirelessly to make workplaces fairer, protect jobs, and improve conditions for both staff and students. The NEC is where decisions are made that affect every member. Please use your vote to ensure the NEC represents your views.