EducationGuardian.co.uk | Higher special reports | Universities in £1bn debt crisis

UK universities are at least £1bn a year short of the money needed to keep buildings and equipment in working order, according to an audit commissioned by the government.

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"For years now, ministers and vice-chancellors have been trading off the goodwill of staff members to teach larger classes, to reduce the numbers of tutorials, to reduce the contact time and to cut back on their own research time. They can't do it any more."