UK punching above weight in global university rankings, despite low investment

UCU said the fact that spending on higher education in the UK had failed to keep pace with a global increase should act as a wake-up call to the government that spending on universities is vital if we are to continue to enjoy a high standing on the global stage.

The rankings, from Universitas 21, reveal that overall average spending by governments on higher education as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) has increased to an average of 1.1%. The UK's public spending on higher education as a proportion of GDP has fallen in recent years to just 0.6% and is behind countries such as Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Malaysia, Finland and Ukraine.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Pound for pound, UK universities provide the best value in the world, but this report shows that as we continue to spend less on higher education, the rest of the world is investing more. 

'To compete with, let alone really challenge, America and the emerging economies that are increasing spending on education, the government needs to invest more, which is the best way to achieve sustainable growth.'

More information on why investment in education pays off can be found at: www.knowledgeeconomy.org.uk

The full rankings from 2012 can be found on the Universitas21 website.