Norfolk MP calls on Government to tackle "institutional collapse" at UEA
Clive Lewis' appeal comes ahead of his meeting with the Education Secretary concerning the University of East Anglia
Last updated 6th Mar 2023
A Norfolk MP is calling on the Government to seriously tackle what he's calling "widespread institutional collapse" across our county.
Clive Lewis' appeal comes ahead of his meeting with the Education Secretary concerning the University of East Anglia- which faces an expected budget deficit of £45 million.
"There are lots of reasons why they should intervene"
The MP for Norwich South says the UEA cannot be allowed to deteriorate or collapse:
"This will have a massive impact on research, at The Norwich Research Park. It will have a massive impact on the teaching hospital at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
It will also have an impact on the economy and the Government's Levelling-up agenda across the region, of which the University is a massive part. It will have a wider impact with fewer or no students coming in".
"You The Government need to help and find some support for the UEA because this will go against your objectives to invest in the East. So there are lots of reasons why they should intervene and make sure the UEA is given that support to stay on it's feet".
"This is part of a broader picture"
Mr Lewis says the decision to remove student number caps in 2020 is symptomatic of a wider problem:
"This is part and parcel of the marketisation of Higher Education and if a University doesn't set up and make the right decisions then in like any market, you go bankrupt and out of business".
"This is part of a broader picture of institutional failures that are taking place, and that's why the last 12 years have been disastrous for our economy, society and the institutions we rely on".
What has the Government and UEA said?
The Department of Education say this meeting will happen "sooner rather than later"- and focus what can be done to support our university.
They say the Government has consistently funded and supported higher education- giving it over 80 billion since 2010
A UEA spokesperson said: "We will be joining Clive Lewis MP for this meeting with the Education Minister, Robert Halfon MP, on Wednesday and look forward to this opportunity to engage.”