The University and College Union (UCU) has
called on MPs to oppose government attempts to water down
amendments to the higher education and research bill as it
returns to the House of Commons later today (Wednesday).
The controversial bill was heavily amended in
the House of Lords with peers introducing measures which would
protect quality, make it harder for private colleges to access
public money, limit the scope of the Teaching Excellence
Framework and guarantee the rights of international students and
staff.
The government has rejected the changes and is
asking MPs to support a number of its own alternative amendments
instead. UCU has warned that the proposed concessions are weaker
than the Lords’ amendments and won’t offer the same level of
protection for quality and the sector’s international reputation,
and is urging MPs to vote to keep the Lords’ amendments in the
bill.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: ‘This damaging
higher education bill has been roundly criticised by the House of
Lords, and peers across the political spectrum have worked hard
to address concerns raised by students and staff through a number
of helpful amendments.
‘In an attempt to rush through the legislation before
parliament is dissolved, the government is trying to replace
these changes with much weaker concessions. Without the
protections offered by the Lords’ amendments, the government
risks eroding the quality and international reputation of our
higher education system.
‘We are now calling on MPs to reject the government’s
proposals and vote to keep the Lords’ amendments in the bill when
it returns to the House of Commons today.’
