UK gambling with its reputation as other countries invest in education, warns UCU

Responding to a speech by the chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Sir Alan Langlands on university funding, the union said the government needed to match rhetoric with funding otherwise the UK would risk its proud reputation as an international leader in higher education.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'It's no great secret that we are in tough economic times, but that is no excuse for risking the UK's proud international standing and reputation in higher education. We are in real danger of being left behind as we try to get back on track economically. Most countries are investing in universities and they recognise that help for education must be at the heart of their fiscal stimuli.
 
'Despite warm words from government the opposite is happening in the UK. If the government does not make bold decisions to back education now then we have little doubt that the fallout from that decision will be felt in years to come.'
 
Sir Alan Langlands was speaking at HEFCE's annual meeting where he said he regretted that the UK and Spain were the only main countries not investing more in universities and singled out Germany and America for praise for ensuring education was at the heart of their fiscal stimuli.