Unions are warning England's further education colleges of the possibility of a major dispute after national employer representatives, the Association of Colleges (AoC), took the unprecedented step of withdrawing a 0.5% pay offer.

The increase in university fees has led to an increase in the number of students who do not view their course as value for money, according to a study released today.

Staff working in higher education have been offered a pay rise of just 0.8% following the latest pay talks between unions* and the employers' representatives.

The UK has the best pound for pound higher education system in the world, according to new global rankings released today. The tables show that, despite coming only 24th in terms of resources, the UK punches above its weight coming 2nd in terms of output.

Salford University was mired in further controversy today as a secret memo detailing plans to sack staff and axe courses came to light.

UCU said today that the UK needed a proper political debate about its priorities and to push forward with policies aimed at stimulating growth and jobs.

UCU calls for increased funding for colleges and universities - the key to future economic success

Another 171 people face a worrying few months at the University of Salford after the institution announced plans for a further round of cuts that could see 87 jobs axed across a host of departments.

UCU said today that further education colleges needed to be at the heart of plans for transferring skills budgets to Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Unions* representing staff in English further education colleges said a 0.5% pay offer made at the first round of pay negotiations yesterday was not acceptable.