Economic recovery group says Scotland's universities and colleges need protection from financial hit of Covid crisis

The union was commenting on a report from an independent advisory group set up by the government to advise on Scotland's economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which called for an 'education-led recovery' and urged the government to learn the lessons from previous austerity measures that it says failed too many workers and their families.

UCU's Scotland official Mary Senior said: 'The report is right to call for protection for universities and colleges from the financial hit of the pandemic. We need all our education establishments firing on all cylinders if they are to lead our recovery.

'The government must heed the report's warnings about repeating the mistakes of the past with austerity measures that increased inequality and failed all too many workers and their families. The advisory group and the Scottish government need to use their influence to get the UK government to use its additional fiscal levers to support the post-16 education sectors across the UK.'