New figures reveal fall in the number of university teachers as student numbers increase

The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), show that in 2010-11 there was a 0.4% cut in the total number of teaching academics. At the same time the number of students between 2009-10 and 2010-11 increased by 0.3%.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'With student numbers going up, this fall in teaching staff is very concerning, especially as we prepare for the new funding regime. The inevitable result will be larger tutorial and lecture sizes, which will be bad for the student experience.
 
'Our members will as always continue to do their best but we need to get away from the idea that more can be done with less if we are to retain our global academic reputation. The sector needs more not fewer resources if it is to meet the ever-increasing demands made by students.'