LECTURERS’ union leaders have called for guaranteed funding to enable universities and colleges to re-open when the coronavirus crisis ends.

The University and College Union (UCU) sent a seven-point plan on funding, supporting jobs and maintaining academic capacity to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday.

The union also wants a guarantee that no college or university will “go to the wall” as a result of the crisis.

The plan advocates salary and job security, including for those on insecure contracts.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “We need a clear and coherent plan from the government that guarantees funding and jobs to protect our academic capacity.

"The country can ill afford to throw thousands of teachers, researchers and professional support staff on the dole at a time when education will be a key driver of recovery.

“In return for government commitments on funding, we need colleges and universities to work together in the national interest and abandon wasteful and unproductive competitive behaviour."

The Department for Education had not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.