That funding be restored to HEIs and tuition fees abolished

Responsible department: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Reforms to Higher Education are damaging, regressive and strike at the heart of our society.

Investment in education bolsters the economy, with a return of almost £3 for every £1 spent. According to a study by Universities UK, the HE Sector alone has generated over £45bn in UK output, whilst providing 2.5% of the jobs in the workforce [1].

The damage to social mobility will be staggering. Tuition fees disproportionally discourage those from poorer backgrounds, as well as female and disabled students, from entering Higher Education [2]. We must widen access, not restrict it.

We, the undersigned, call upon the Government to scrap the reforms to Higher Education; to reinstate public funding to HEIs to a level comparable to pre-2011; and to abolish tuition fees.

[1] http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Documents/economicimpact3.pdf
[2] http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmsctech/writev/618/sr07.htm