Professional academic associations issue call for “new deal for higher education.”

As UK higher education institutions reportedly fall in the global rankings, (1) forty-nine professional associations representing diverse academic research fields, including BASEES, and thousands of UK-based academics wrote today to Education Ministers in the UK and devolved governments calling for “a new deal for higher education.” Their letter points out that the sharp drop in universities’ income,(2) as a result of a fall in student numbers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will endanger the ability of the UK Higher Education sector to maintain excellence in education and research, with grave consequences for the economy and society. 

UK public spending on higher education is the lowest among OECD countries, and comprises less than half of the average spending among the OECD’s other 34 countries,(3) making UK universities particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in income from student numbers. 

Even before the pandemic nearly 25 percent of all UK universities were in deficit (4) and this number will grow. In response, universities are announcing job cuts and even cuts to the range of courses and subjects being offered.

Dr Nicola Pratt, Vice President of BRISMES (5) who helped organize the letter, said: “Universities have a key role to play in developing innovative research, and providing each new generation with cultural knowledge as well as cutting edge skills and expertise. Indeed, higher education improves the life chances of individuals, enhances social mobility and is also a major employer in many parts of the country. Now more than ever we need to substantially increase public spending on universities, we need a new deal for higher education.”

For more information:

Prof. Neve Gordon, School of Law, Queen Mary University of London, neve.gordon@qmul.ac.uk 

Tel: 07804987330

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