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I WISH to support, from a "vocational" subject area and a "new" university, the views of Philip Cerny (THES, April 18).

Our profession, if allowed to operate without the sort of interference and control beloved of the Government, is a unique blend of research and teaching. If one desires only the former then the United Kingdom has, unfortunately, little to offer which is not short term and market driven; if only the latter, schools and colleges will provide more than sufficient.

The desire to develop one's subject in all its aspects, from the fundamentals at first-year undergraduate level to the discoveries of research, forms the basis of the job in a university. I would doubt that any apply for lecturing posts seeking wealth, so presume that they must share with me a thirst for knowledge leading to advances for the good of all.

Mark Leeson Department of engineering Manchester Metropolitan University