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UCU response to HEPI report on public attitudes to higher education

20 July 2021

UCU has today responded to the HEPI report into attitudes to higher education.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:

'The level of hostility towards decolonising activity in UK higher education shows just how far we have to go to tackle systemic racism. Decolonising curricula benefits students from all backgrounds, but this activity is about more than just diversifying the material students are exposed to, and it should not have to be sanitised in order to win support.

'The government's rhetoric on this issue is deeply divisive and we should call it out rather than pandering to those who would seek to maintain universities as the preserve of a privileged few. Universities also need to do more to connect with the communities within which they are situated - cuts to jobs and courses at many institutions have severed links with local people and created a damaging impression about their priorities.'

Last updated: 20 July 2021