I thoroughly support Todd Landman's views on institutional audit, the supposedly "light touch" for universities. Academics are becoming so chained to and restricted by processes that insurrection is surely nigh. The government is investigating whether the targets and systems universities have adopted are appropriate and effective at ensuring fairness, quality and transparency. Ironic that in the top-up fee debate, later the white paper, we were reminded that "no government is bound by its manifesto" ("Ministers battle to sell policy to Labour Party faithful", THES , January 31).
Gillian Ania
University of Salford