University strikes could champion a gap year abroad

More people could be about to embark on a gap year later in 2010 as universities face a crisis over a cut in funding.

The Guardian reported that universities across the country are preparing to axe thousands of teaching jobs, close campuses and cancel courses in order to help them manage funding cuts by the government.

It added that post-graduates could be drafted in to replace professors for teaching, making a gap year abroad a more attractive option in 2010.

Professor Don Nutbeam, vice-chancellor of Southampton University, told the source that the decision by the Higher Education Funding Council for England that a five per cent reduction in budget is "one of a series of insidious cuts that have been made to higher education".

Furthermore, chaos could be caused by striking staff, with the University of Leeds voting in favour of action if a dispute over job losses and funding cuts is not resolved.

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( Last Updated: 2010-02-08 20:26:15)