Universities must be supported to develop UK's creative economy

A report from Universities UK (UUK), Creating Prosperity: the role of higher education in driving the UK's creative economy, highlights the vital role universities play in boosting the £60bn UK creative economy. The union said universities needed sustained investment to be able to continue their work as drivers of the UK economy and that government plans for huge cuts to certain subject areas made no economic sense.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Our higher education sector should be celebrated for all the work it does, but it needs to be properly supported. University staff are educating more students than ever before and the sector is generating considerable sums for the economy. However, all that is under threat.
 
'Government plans to slash teaching budgets make no sense economically and would fundamentally change the landscape of higher education in this country. A quick glance around the world tells us that it is only our government who fails to grasp the need to invest in education during tough economic times.'