UCU writes to Sajid Javid demanding assurances from government on Brexit fallout

UCU has today written to business secretary Sajid Javid seeking urgent assurances on the government's support for further and higher education following the result of last week's EU referendum.

In her letter, the union's general secretary Sally Hunt says the result has a number of implications for universities and colleges, not least in terms of the financial impact. She points out that UK colleges and universities receive significant funding from EU projects and students from across the EU support thousands of jobs in the education sector.

Sally Hunt says that in order to effectively plan for the future, universities and colleges need clarity on what that government will now do to mitigate any negative impact of EU withdrawal and there must be a clear plan for stable, long-term funding to replace any loss of income from EU sources.

The union concludes that although the UK faces a period of considerable political and economic uncertainty. Universities and colleges are drivers for the skills and knowledge which must be the bedrock of a stable and outward-looking economy and society.

The letter in full can be read here.