UCU response to Jo Johnson speech

Responding to the speech, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Everyone wants to see the best teaching done in universities and the fact is that, despite fewer resources than other major academic nations, our lecturers have a world-beating reputation. That is why so many international students come here.

'Any government that wants to support further improvements should act to eliminate the endemic casualisation of teaching staff and work to enhance the professional status of the sector.'

Speaking about the current funding system and a refusal from the government yesterday to rule out tuition fee or loan repayment rises, Sally Hunt said: 'Experts have highlighted the dire problems with the current system and we believe a new parliament is an excellent time to revisit how to fund universities.

'Higher education remains one of the country's success stories, but we need a system where universities receive stable public funding, staff are properly rewarded and secure in their jobs, and students are not deterred from study by rising levels of debt.'