Universities need support to lift UK out of recession

The figures released by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) reveal that universities provided £2,812 billion to the UK in 2007-8 – an increase of 6.5% percent on the previous year.
 
UCU welcomed the report but warned that swathing cuts by universities across the country would damage local economies, halt vital research and prevent potential students from studying courses that most suited their talents. Up to 100 institutions have announced plans to make job losses at a time of record demand from students.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'If further proof was required of the importance of education to this country, then the government's own report has provided it.  It is now essential that the government takes heed of its own figures and does everything it can to support educators and students.
 
'Around 100 universities are making swingeing cuts at the moment with thousands of jobs being axed and many more predicted. Today's report makes it clear that we must give more students the opportunity to go to university through investment in higher education and extra staff. Astoundingly, we are doing the complete opposite. The government has cut the budget and institutions are sacking staff and closing departments and courses.
 
'The prime minister boasted recently that he would not allow education to become a victim of the recession. Unfortunately, the government is yet to do anything to suggest his statement was not merely rhetoric.'
 
A full copy of the report can be found on the HEFCE website.
 
UCU will be revealing the full extent of the cuts in further and higher education this week. Contact the press office for further details.