UCU response to university funding review announcement

The union said that if the review body was to look at the widening participation agenda it had to properly scrutinise the failings of previous initiatives.
 
UCU warned that the fact that the delayed review will not report until late next year did not make it acceptable for the main parties to duck the issue ahead of the election.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Last week Lord Mandelson made it clear that he believed education was a key driver of social mobility and, despite the usual caveats about small increases, his speech on the future of higher education focused on the need for much more to be done. The fees review is that opportunity, but it must not be afraid to really unpick the current failings of the expensive widening participation agenda.
 
'Despite the review's timetable, all the parties must clearly state their fee policies to ensure that students and their parents can make an informed choice at the ballot box. Failure to do so will deny the general public a voice on the debate on the future of university funding. The review needs to be allowed to be properly conducted with the relevant voices, particular those of academics and students, heard on the core group.

'We are incredibly disappointed that there is no proper employee representation on the panel. Why have they chosen to ignore the thousands of staff we represent? I would be very surprised if the independent argument holds much weight with anybody when they realise how well-represented employers and business are on the panel. I will be looking forward to Lord Browne getting in touch to explain to me just how the employee voice will be heard in the review and we fully expect a place on any advisory or supplementary forums.'