UNIVERSITY of Bedfordshire staff met MPs in Westminster today as part of a campaign to save their jobs.

The Unison members joined other higher education workers from across the country in a mass lobby of Parliament, urging ministers to take urgent action to address the lack of funding, job cuts and course closures.

The University of Bedfordshire is one of 70 institutions across the country cutting staff numbers to save money, said Unison.

It has told around 240 staff from the Luton and Bedford campuses that their jobs are at risk as it seeks to make £5 million savings this year.

The university is inviting staff whose jobs are under threat to apply for around 160 new roles being created. 

Unison has called on management to use part of the university’s £200m reserves to prevent the cuts.

Attendee Jo Foster, an education co-ordinator at the university who has worked in higher education for more than 20 years, said: “The government must take urgent action to reverse this situation before it’s too late. 

“Higher education is crucial to the UK economy, it needs proper funding.”

The university was approached for comment.