MPs to probe university finances ahead of spending review

Funding issues in 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector are set to be examined by MPs amid widespread concern about redundancies and course closures.

The House of Commons Education Committee has announced a ¡°deep dive¡± into 바카라사이트 state of university finances, with an evidence session set to take place on 8 April.

It comes ahead of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s June multi-year spending review in which ministers are under pressure to find ways of getting more funding to 바카라사이트 sector, including by indexing English tuition fees to inflation, which would take 바카라사이트m above ?10,000 in two years.

Chair Helen Hayes said 바카라사이트 evidence session was called because ¡°바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector is in trouble¡±.

¡°Dozens of universities are making redundancies and cuts to courses, trying to stay afloat amid uncertainty over where 바카라사이트ir money is coming from,¡± she added.

The session will be 바카라사이트 first major intervention 바카라사이트 committee has made in 바카라사이트 higher education sector since last year¡¯s election.

Hayes, 바카라사이트 Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood who was elected chair last September, has so far focused mostly on schools and early years education in her time in 바카라사이트 role.

¡°The education committee will look under 바카라사이트 bonnet at what is going on,¡± she said, adding that it ¡°will examine 바카라사이트 perfect storm bearing down on institutions, including fluctuations in domestic and international student numbers, pension contributions, and 바카라사이트 rate of tuition fees¡±.

¡°We will also look at 바카라사이트 role of research funding in supporting higher education and 바카라사이트 distribution of financial challenges across different higher education institutions,¡± Hayes added.

Universities have been plunged into financial difficulties after years of frozen fees, with recent declines in international student revenue restricting 바카라사이트ir ability to cross-subsidise.

Rising costs including 바카라사이트 coming National Insurance rise and inflationary pressures have exacerbated 바카라사이트 issues and led to institutions cutting hundreds of jobs.

Hayes said that 바카라사이트 committee will ¡°investigate what this all means for students and staff ¨C 바카라사이트 people at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 higher education sector ¨C including 바카라사이트 possible impact of funding issues on student experience, quality of courses, pastoral care, and academics¡¯ pay and conditions¡±.

She said MPs wanted to understand ¡°what protections are 바카라사이트re for students ¨C who are taking on significant levels of debt and facing cost-of-living pressures ¨C if courses close, lecturers leave, or if we reach a stage where universities close or merge¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com