Research Professional News, which provides information for research institutions, warned in its October 31 electronic edition that “Britain’s autumn spending plan will further worsen the financial crisis for universities.”
“We have world-leading universities, creative industries, life sciences, high-tech companies and professional services. We see enormous potential across the UK,” British Finance Minister Reeves said at the Labor Party conference in September.
However, in his fall fiscal speech, Reeves did not mention “university” at all. National insurance contributions paid by employers will be raised to 15%, and “universities are deeply concerned about the tax measures that will increase costs for higher education institutions that are already in financial difficulty” (the same news).
Employer contributions to teacher pension plans have also risen to nearly 30%, pushing education-related costs to unsustainable levels. The increased burden of national insurance premiums is bound to worsen people’s financial situation, and universities across the UK are closing courses and departments one after another.
The British science magazine Nature (September 26) also featured a feature article on “British universities in crisis” and stated that “70 out of approximately 290 higher institutions have announced plans for reorganization or staff reductions”. pointed out.
British Prime Minister Starmer’s advisers included a list of “six major crises” drawn up in May before the general election, including overcrowding in prisons, underfunding of the National Health Service (NHS), and the collapse of local authorities, as well as the collapse of universities. Lined up.
All of these crises stem from the inability to fill the funding gap caused by inflation, which has cumulatively reached 24% over five years. The UK university industry employs 315,000 people and accounts for 8.6% of gross domestic product (GDP). In the UK, “To build a great city, build a university…”
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