The president of Universities UK has called for a “national conversation” on a “long-term funding solution” for higher education, while urging the new Westminster government to “lean in” to the cost-of-living crisis with the return of maintenance grants for those in greatest need.
Steve West, vice-chancellor of the University of the West of England, gave his speech to UUK’s annual conference as the new government led by Liz Truss forms, with big concern for universities over how to meet a cost-of-living crisis biting for staff and students, while dealing with their own rising costs. At the same time, English universities’ funding is being reduced by the continuing freeze in the tuition fee cap.
