Coronavirus: UK’s dream of becoming ‘science superpower’ will go up in smoke if universities don’t get urgent help, ministers warned

Boris Johnson’s dream of turning the UK into a “science superpower” may go up in smoke if his government does not offer urgent financial help to universities, ministers have been warned.

The sector has issued an “SOS” plea for aid in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and Westminster must step in, Scotland’s higher education minister told colleagues on Wednesday.

Richard Lochhead said some colleges and universities may be forced to start term later than planned and move classes online.

On Tuesday Cambridge University announced it would move to all-virtual teaching for the full 2020-21 academic year, but said some small-group work may take place if social distancing allows.

Mr Lochhead said students were also feeling the pinch and should be allowed to claim universal credit because many summer jobs had disappeared.

He told the Holyrood education committee: “If assistance from the UK government is not forthcoming soon, then the very sectors we rely on to get us through this pandemic and to support the country’s recovery will be severely weakened and diminished.

“And I’m afraid the prime minister’s recent promise the UK will become a ‘science superpower’ will simply disappear into the ether like a puff of smoke.”

Last year Mr Johnson said he planned to reform immigration to “attract elite researchers and specialists in science, engineering and technology”, in order to transform Britain into a “global science superpower”.

Mr Lochhead added that it could take years for universities to recover from income losses caused by a fall in the number of international students enrolling during the pandemic, and further warned institutions could face a “double whammy” of lost funding due to Brexit.

Asked if any universities were on the brink of closing, he said he did not think that was the case but many faced “monumental challenges”.

The Scottish government has made £5m available to help students in hardship and £75m to support university research.

Mr Lochhead’s warning came as research suggested measures taken by universities to continue operating during the Covid-19 pandemic were putting off some prospective students.

A survey of 516 UK-based students by YouthSight for the London Economics consultancy found they were markedly more likely to defer enrolment this autumn if their intended destination planned to hold lectures online and curtail social activities to combat coronavirus.

Earlier work by YouthSight found many people feared missing out on “the full university experience”.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, echoed Mr Lochhead’s financial warning in a statement on the research.

“Universities are worried about loss of income and students being poached by other institutions,” she said.

“The government needs to step in and underwrite income lost through fees and teaching grants and, in response, universities must promise to work together on plans for safely reopening and when to recommence face-to-face teaching.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting the UK’s world-class universities and students through this challenging time. The universities minister is working with her counterparts across the UK to support the stability of the sector.

“The newly established taskforce on university research sustainability has ministerial representation from all the devolved administrations, including Scotland.

“Scottish universities are eligible for wider government support packages, including business loan schemes.”

Additional reporting by Press Association