A series of investigations by the Guardian into the world of so-called ‘precarious work’ has revealed that universities across the UK are using zero-hours contracts and temp agencies to pay university lecturers.

The investigation into the universities showed that it is the richest Russell Group institutions that rely most heavily on academic workers with non-standard contracts.  The Russell Group represents 24 universities in the UK.

The figures come from the Higher Education Statistics Agency and have been analysed by the University and College Union. They show that within the Russell Group, the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick have the largest proportion of frontline teaching staff on short-term or zero-hours and other flexible contracts. At Birmingham, 70% of teaching staff are on what the Guardian defines as ‘insecure contracts’, while at Warwick it is 68%.

The Guardian investigation has led trade unionists to accuse vice-chancellors of “importing the Sports Direct model” into British universities. It has also prompted the National Union of Students to warn that low-paid and overstressed tutors may not be providing quality education to undergraduates paying tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year.

Across British universities, on average 53% were on some form of non-permanent contract, ranging from nine-month contracts or lecturers paid by the hour to give classes or mark exams. Three-quarters of junior academics were on ‘precarious’ contracts, the union said.

“When academic staff are demoralised and forced to cope with low pay and insecurity, the knock-on effect on students is significant,” Sorana Vieru, a vice-president at the union, said. “Many students are now taking on unprecedented levels of debt to go to university. They deserve good-quality teaching and anything that damages that is deeply unjust.”

Commenting on claims made by the UCU and the use of 'zero-hours' contracts at Russell Group universities, Director General of the Russell Group, Dr Wendy Piatt, said:

“Staff welfare is, of course, a priority for our universities and is always taken into account when contracts and terms of employment are offered. However, universities require levels of flexibility that reflect changes in student enrolment, popularity of courses and the expansion of research projects.

“To assume all staff involved in teaching through atypical or fixed term contracts are on so-called ‘zero-hours’ contracts is misleading. Visiting lecturers, expert consultants or industry professionals who add greatly to the research-led teaching at our universities would be on such contracts. These additional voices in our universities provide insight that the students value highly, but would not wish to take on full-time typical contracts within a higher education institution.”