UCU reaction to prime minister's promise of extra university places

The government originally said it would be capping student numbers this summer but, with applications to university at a record high, it has now reversed its decision. The news comes on the back of a report from UCU that revealed job cuts are being threatened across higher education. The union warned today that just cramming more students into universities while getting rid of staff would result in more trying to be delivered for less, with a damaging impact on the quality of UK higher education.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We know the power education has to transform lives and welcome the news from the prime minister that he will afford more people the chance to study at university this year. However, we cannot just cram more students into our universities at a time when the staff required to teach and nurture them are being cut.
 
'We are pleased the prime minister also announced today that the government will be consulting with the higher education sector about the plans. Our message to the government is quite simple - if we want to ensure we are delivering the highest possible quality of education to our students, we have to abolish any notion that it can be done on the cheap. Who is going to teach the extra students if university jobs are being axed? Proper funding is required for the extra places and unnecessary job cuts must be stopped.'

• BBC news report