Universities UK presses new PM Andy Burnham for stable funding and regulation

The sector body has pledged graduate employability proposals, college partnerships and a goal of attracting £100 billion into university startups and spinouts.

Universities UK President Malcolm Press and Chief Executive Vivienne Stern have written jointly to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham

Universities UK has responded to Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister by offering action on graduate employment, university investment and pathways into work, while seeking greater certainty over funding, regulation and international student recruitment.

The intervention comes in an open letter from Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of Universities UK, and Malcolm Press, the organization’s President and Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University.

Addressing Burnham following his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Stern and Press position universities as institutions serving people beyond their students: “Universities are national strategic assets, here to serve the four nations of the United Kingdom.”

Their case draws on Greater Manchester, where five universities work with businesses, schools, colleges and public service organizations. The letter describes universities as economic anchors that attract talent and investment, create companies and jobs, and contribute to the social and cultural life of their regions.

It also points to the University of Sheffield, founded through penny subscriptions, and Norwich University of the Arts, established to provide designers for local industries, as examples of universities created in response to local economic needs.

Sector leaders seek a more predictable policy environment

Stern and Press acknowledge that Universities UK had prepared “a long list” of requests for the incoming Prime Minister but decided not to send it despite the pressures facing the sector.

Instead, the organization promises to work with the government on employment, investment, efficiency and collaboration across education. That offer is accompanied by a direct request:

“Give us a bit of predictability and policy stability, particularly in relation to funding, regulation and international student recruitment. Join up policy across government. Challenge us for sure, but talk this sector up, not down.”

Writing separately on LinkedIn, Press set out three messages for the new administration: universities are national assets, the sector is prepared to help address the country’s economic and social challenges, and government must provide a stable environment in which institutions can operate.

He identified graduate employability, innovation and spinouts, civic partnerships and collaboration across education as areas where universities intend to contribute.

Russell Group backs wider education pathways

The Russell Group also responded to the change in government, following Burnham’s pledge in his first speech as Labour leader to create an education system offering every young person a clear pathway for the future.

The university group backed access to university, apprenticeships and other routes, alongside better guidance for students from different backgrounds. It also called for greater collaboration between higher education and further education to combine teaching expertise and local connections.

Ministerial appointments announced under Burnham include a new portfolio bringing together business, innovation, science and trade. Jonathan Reynolds has been named Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, while Lucy Powell has become Secretary of State for Education. Lord Vallance has stepped down as Science Minister.

Universities UK’s delivery commitments span students, institutions and the wider workforce. The organization says it will work with the government on the challenge of young people not in education, employment or training, encourage university partnerships with colleges and continue its Transformation and Efficiency program.

It also sets out its first scheduled action: “In September we’ll launch a series of ambitious proposals to boost graduate employability. We’ve already committed to a goal of attracting £100bn into start-ups and spin outs. And we’re working to help universities transform how they work to be more efficient and collaborative through our Transformation and Efficiency programme.”