UCU responds to new university plans

The union was responding to an announcement today by John Denham, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, of new areas that will be opening higher education institutions.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We welcome plans for more universities and more chances for people to study for higher education qualifications. However, we are a little perplexed that the government has chosen to make this announcement just a week after it cut financial support for students from next year.
 
'Widening participation is a laudable aim and one that UCU fully supports. However, we want a system that ensures students have the opportunity to realise their full potential. This means pursuing their dreams, studying the course that best matches their individual talents and properly experiencing everything university has to offer. It is not a case of merely getting more people through an institution's front doors and out the other with a piece of paper in their hand.'