Education Committee Chair MP has today announced a deep
dive evidence session examining funding issues in the higher
education sector. The Chair said:
“The UK's higher education sector is in trouble. Dozens of
universities are making redundancies and cuts to courses, trying
to stay afloat amid uncertainty over where their money is coming
from.
“The Education Committee will look under the bonnet at what
is going on. In a focused single evidence session on 8 April, we
will examine the perfect storm bearing down on institutions,
including fluctuations in domestic and international student
numbers, pension contributions, and the rate of tuition fees. We
will also look at the role of research funding in supporting
higher education and the distribution of financial challenges
across different higher education institutions.
“But we will also investigate what this all means for
students and staff – the people at the centre of the higher
education sector – including the possible impact of funding
issues on student experience, quality of courses, pastoral care,
and academics' pay and conditions. What protections are there for
students – who are taking on significant levels of debt and
facing cost-of-living pressures – if courses close, lecturers
leave, or if we reach a stage where universities close or
merge?
“We will question experts from across the sector who can
speak to these pressing issues, and as well as shining a light on
the scale and impact of funding issues, we'll be looking for
solutions to protect students and our higher education system as
a whole.”
ENDS
Note to editors
The announcement comes after the Education Committee last week
endorsed Professor Edward Peck as the Government's preferred
candidate to become Chair of the Office for Students. Read more here.
