New poll reveals overwhelming support for investment in higher education

An overwhelming majority of the public value universities and colleges and want to see continued investment in UK institutions, according to a new poll released today.

The Ipos Mori survey for Universities UK shows that 90% of the general public thought it was important for the government to invest in UK universities. UCU said the poll confirmed its own position that investment, not swingeing cuts, was the only way the UK could continue to operate as a global leader in higher education.

The poll comes just a week after a damning international report revealed that the UK is investing less of its gross domestic product in higher education than competitor countries - just 1.3 per cent compared to an average of 1.5 per cent - and that the UK had plummeted down the international graduation rate league table.

Full article at http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5025&from=1676

UK slipping down graduate league

The UK is slipping behind its international rivals in the number of graduates, according to a report. Sally Hunt, head of the UCU lecturers' union, warned that the "coalition government's refusal to fund sufficient university places this summer will come back to haunt us".

Full BBC article here