Jo Grady calls for ‘emergency’ HE funding review

The leader of the University and College Union (UCU) has called on the government to conduct “an emergency review” of higher education funding in light of the “crisis” facing the sector.

Speaking at the union’s annual congress in Harrogate, general secretary Jo Grady said that universities are facing threats from the “catastrophic mismanagement of post-16 education”, job losses, and, more widely, through the rise of far-right politicians.

She told members that they “come together at a time like never before – industrially, politically, and internationally”, adding that “the world has rarely been more unequal and more uncertain”.

The annual meet-up comes with many union branches locked in local disputes with their institutions over job losses, and follows the news that employers have offered only a 2 per cent pay rise for next year – despite UCU pushing for up to 7 per cent.

Grady said that the union is fighting to end the sector redundancies, ban the use of “sham” subsidiary firms as a way out of offering sector pension schemes, end sector casualisation, and for a “much-needed review of governance”.

“But ultimately, congress, the problems that plague higher education cannot be fixed under this funding model,” she said. 

“We need an emergency government review into the funding model that is wrecking higher education. The sector must be fully funded, it cannot rely on indebting students, and it must not rely on exploiting staff as a business model.”

She also announced that UCU will begin a campaign targeting members, educators, parents, the public and policymakers to “describe the funding crisis”, how it impacts local communities and how to address it.

UCU is demanding “more from Labour”, said Grady, warning the government has not delivered “material change” for workers.

This week, she wrote to prime minister Keir Starmer asking for the government to intervene in the crisis and to stop the “unfolding catastrophe” at the University of Nottingham, which is looking to cut 600 jobs, noting that the government intervened when British Steel announced job cuts on a similar level.

“Labour is on the verge of a leadership election. This is the last-chance saloon for them,” Grady warned. 

She called on UCU members to fight for themselves and students in the year ahead. 

“Let’s make the next year not about what politicians do. Let’s make the next year not about what the media say. Let’s make the next year not about how employers act. Let’s make the next year about how UCU members and representatives come together, organise and win – in and out of the workplace. I know you are with me in that fight.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com