The University of London could outsource its careers service, which provides advice to students at more than 50 institutions, to a for-profit private firm, it has emerged.

But the university has stressed that no decisions have yet been made on plans to create a ¡°commercial services business¡± and that outsourcing is only one option on the table.

On 2 December, staff were sent a letter from Chris Cobb, the chief operating officer, outlining a programme to create ¡°commercial shared services¡± in order to ¡°generate additional surplus¡± for research activities and ¡°sustainable management of the property portfolio¡±.

Four ¡°delivery options¡± under consideration include the creation of a ¡°new entity with a commercial partner utilising a wide range of the university¡¯s existing services and back-office provision¡±.

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It is understood that the university has already been in talks with about a dozen firms to scope out interest, although a final decision is not expected until the summer.

One option is that the university could allow a private firm to run the careers service for profit, using only the university¡¯s brand and reputation. Another suggestion is that the University of London computer centre could be run with a private firm.

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However, other shared services, such as centrally owned accommodation and the university¡¯s International Academy (formerly the external degree system), are not thought to be part of the plans.

Andy Young, a regional support official for the University and College Union London, said: ¡°We oppose privatisation and [changes] detrimental to jobs and terms and conditions. Our members are very concerned about this [and] what this may mean about the quality of service.¡±

Other options listed in the letter include setting up a ¡°speculative technology venture¡± without transferring existing services, and maximising ¡°commercial potential from existing services through internal restructuring and investment¡±.

Mr Cobb told Times Higher Education that the four options were designed to be ¡°a catalyst for debate and (if we decide to pursue this further) it is likely that a final outcome will be a hybrid of these models¡±.

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david.matthews@tsleducation.com