Universities warn of staffing problems

One in five universities reports difficulties recruiting

More and more universities are struggling to recruit lecturers, according to a survey.

The number of institutions which have problems finding academic staff has trebled in the past four years, the study found.

One in five universities said they had problems "most of the time", while 8% said they had daily problems retaining lecturers and professors, up from 2.2% in 1998.

The study was carried out by Universities UK, the body which represents university chief executives.

Campaign

Researchers said the problems were most acute in subjects such as law, IT and engineering, because academics in those fields could earn more in the private sector.

Universities UK has been campaigning for the government to put an extra £10bn into higher education.

The group's chief executive, Baroness Warwick, said the problems had worsened in the four years since it began the annual survey.

Pay is the major underlying factor

Philip Love, Universities and Colleges Employers Association

"What is of concern to all universities is ensuring that our students, whatever their background, have a high quality experience," she said.

"That requires university teaching to be informed by research, provided by high quality and motivated staff, in buildings fit for purpose and using modern equipment."

Universities cited low pay as the main reason for their recruitment problems.

Older universities were more likely to report difficulties this year.

Paul Mackney, general secretary of lecturers' union NATFHE, which represents academics at new universities, said: "The report's findings make it absolutely clear that in both old and new universities there are major recruitment and retention problems for mainstream lecturing staff."

Philip Love, the chairman of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said the problem was expected to get worse as many academics were due to retire over the next few years.

Baroness Warwick: Calling for £10bn for higher education

"The reports make clear that pay is the major underlying factor."

Students have offered their support to the lecturers.

The national president of the National Union of Students, Owain James, said: "This government is yet to realise that if it wants to realise its aim of widening participation it needs to support the education sector.

"More students entering higher education means greater demands placed on already over-worked staff.

"Given that students have seen the cost of going to university double over the last four years, they are angry that none of that money has been used to pay staff properly."

Progress

The government says it recognises the problems faced by universities and is trying to help.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We have made a start by providing £330m over three years to support increases in higher education pay.

"This will help improve the quality of teaching and learning and modernise management and reward systems.

"We will continue to work with the sector to build on this progress."

Three-quarters of the UK's universities took part in the survey.