Petition · past parliament · Department for Education
Establish a Public Inquiry into the Chaotic Return to University in 2020
Closed
112 signatures
What the petition asks
A public inquiry is needed to investigate why the start of academic term 2020/21 resulted in: students being prevented from leaving accommodation, overworked academic staff, concerns about university finances, all without clear steer or support from Government.
Several factors contributed to the chaotic start of university term, most obviously the Covid-19 virus.
We must, however, understand the other factors to prevent such damage in future, including but not limited to:
- Need for universities to compete for student fees
- Underfunding of research, which led to overreliance on overseas student fee income
- Role of private accommodation providers
- Structure of university governance
- Lack of coordination between sector-wide bodies and government
We must, however, understand the other factors to prevent such damage in future, including but not limited to:
- Need for universities to compete for student fees
- Underfunding of research, which led to overreliance on overseas student fee income
- Role of private accommodation providers
- Structure of university governance
- Lack of coordination between sector-wide bodies and government
Timeline
| 26 Oct 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 26 Apr 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
112
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Education
Opened
26 Oct 2020
Closed
26 Apr 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.