Calls for higher fees would be ballot box disaster, warns public

As a BBC poll revealed the majority of university chiefs favour increasing student fees, UCU reminded vice-chancellors and the government that, as well as opposing any increase in fees, British people back a university funding system that is at no cost to the student or their family.
 
Over two thirds (69%) of British adults polled by YouGov for UCU at the start of this academic year thought university had become less attractive because of university tuition fees and three in five said they would be more inclined to vote for a political party that promised not to increase fees.
 
In the survey only 16% of British adults think the introduction of tuition fees has delivered a higher standard of education. Worryingly for the government more people said they believe the Conservative party would do a better job looking after students' interests and British universities.

Two thirds of English adults polled (70%) supported the introduction of the Scottish system where students do not pay fees. However the Scots had little desire to see the English system of £3,000-a-year fees replicated north of the border with three quarters (74%) opposing it.
 
The key findings of the poll include:

• 69% either disagree or strongly disagree that English universities should be allowed to raise tuition fees. Only 12% either agree or strongly agree
• 55% either agree or strongly agree that university education should be at no cost to the student or their family
• 70% either agree or strongly agree that higher education is less attractive to potential students and their families following the introduction of top-up fees
• 60% would be more inclined to vote for a political party that promised not to increase university tuition fees. Only 11% said they would not be influenced by a party's tuition fee policy
• 20% trust the Conservative party most to look after students' interests, whereas 15% trust Labour most, 12% trust the Liberal Democrats most and 21% do not trust any party
• 29% trust the Conservative party most to look after universities' interests, whereas 14% trust Labour most, 6% back the Liberal Democrats and 19% do not trust any party
• Only 16% either agree or strongly agree that the introduction of tuition fees has allowed universities to provide a higher standard of education
• 70% of English adults polled support a similar tuition fee system to Scotland where students do not pay fees
• 74% of Scottish adults polled oppose the introduction of an English-style system with fees in Scotland

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Vice-chancellors ignoring the views of the general public as they try to secure more cash by any means possible is not a new phenomenon. UCU has consistently opposed university fees because we do not believe asking voters to saddle themselves with thousands of pounds of debt is the best way to encourage people to consider university.
 
'We want the system changed because we believe it is the right thing to do. The government may not share our view, but two thirds of voters do and that could make a huge difference at a general election. The question remains though, will the government or any party have the courage to make clear their policies on university fees before the election? We believe the general public has the right to know what levels of debt future governments might be planning to dump on the next generation of students and to vote accordingly.
 
'Despite record sums of money being spent on widening participation, there has been no real change in the proportion of students from the poorest backgrounds entering higher education.'
 
For more information on the YouGov poll on British attitudes to university funding visit: Tuition fee rise risks haemorrhaging of votes says poll

notes
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,068 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15-18 August 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).