UCU: Securing financial security and effective governance in higher education

Motion

Motion title: Securing financial security and effective governance in higher education

Motion text: HESC notes:
The most recent TRAC (2022-23) shows a research deficit of c.£4.6bn, i.e. 68%
of Full Economic Costs across HEIs. That in the last 12 months university
employers have announced plans for over 5,000 redundancies, with a further
5,000 predicted.
HESC believes:
The crisis engulfing UK HE is the consequence of a deep-seated funding and
governance crisis, affecting the UK university model as a whole.
HESC resolves to call the GS to ask the Secretary of State to:
1. offer an alternative, sustainable funding model for research and teaching,
and ensure that FECs for external grants are 100%-funded
2. propose a new model ensuring representation and influence of frontline
academics in HEI governing bodies.
3. ensure that the Charters and Statutes of HEIs contain clauses requiring
prudential and anticyclical management of finances, so that reserves are
built to ensure sectoral resilience, staff job security, and students’ right to
education.