Universities UK (UUK), on behalf of USS employers, has today issued a joint statement with the University and College Union (UCU) outlining how both parties are working together on the future of USS benefits.
Following the March 2023 Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) meeting, we wish to provide a progress update on three of the key commitments we made within the interim joint statement (dated 17 February 2023). These commitments were:
Universities are major players in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), bringing in over a billion pounds in international business investment every year through their R&D and contributing to the government’s Science Superpower agenda. But often the shape, scale and impact of this investment is hard to describe at a sector level due to incomplete data and the variety of ways in which universities work with overseas business partners.
The latest information provided by the USS Trustee suggests that the forthcoming 2023 valuation is likely to reveal a high probability of being able to improve benefits and reduce contributions.
Commenting ahead of planned industrial action starting tomorrow (Wednesday 1 February) by the University and College Union, a spokesperson for Universities UK on behalf of USS Employers said:
A briefing for parliamentarians highlighting some of the strengths of the current funding system for undergraduate teaching in England, with a number of recommendations about how the university sector can work with government to retain what is good about the system while seeking enhancements.
This is our response to the government's review of post-18 education and funding call for evidence in 2018. We emphasised the importance of the post-18 education system to the UK's economy, society and our ability to compete globally.
This report shows the impact of ODA R&D funding on UK universities and their partners, and how the UK can continue to use ODA R&D with developing countries in support of the UN SDGs and UK strategic priorities.
The government’s response to the post-18 review of education and funding arrived yesterday, over four years since the review was first announced. Julie Tam, Deputy Director of Policy at UUK, looks at what it means for universities.