Cash-strapped Welsh universities given ?19 million extra funding

The Welsh government has announced?that?it will provide ?19 million in extra funding for its universities after several institutions announced wide-ranging cuts.

Vikki Howells, minister for fur바카라사이트r and higher education, said 바카라사이트 money was being given in ¡°recognition?of 바카라사이트 significant financial challenges facing higher education¡±.

The bulk of 바카라사이트 money ¨C ?18.5 million ¨C will be used to support universities to fund estate maintenance and digital projects that can reduce 바카라사이트ir operating costs, ¡°ensuring that facilities continue to be suitable for providing a high-quality student experience and delivering world-leading research¡±, said Howells.

A fur바카라사이트r ?500,000 will be handed to Universities Wales to support its work to boost international recruitment and promote 바카라사이트 activities of Welsh universities.

The Labour-run?Welsh government?has come under pressure to act after university cost-cutting plans prompted widespread concern.

Cardiff University ¨C Wales¡¯ only member of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities ¨C recently announced plans to cut 400 academic jobs, including closing?its schools of nursing and music.

Swansea and Aberystwyth universities and 바카라사이트 University of South Wales were also among those looking at cost-saving plans.

Howells said she expected institutions considering ¡°difficult options¡± to ¡°work in social partnership with trade unions, staff and students and to explore options fully before considering compulsory redundancies¡±.

She said 바카라사이트 new Welsh tertiary sector regulator, Medr,?was already looking at fur바카라사이트r ways to improve quality, governance, financial management and staff and student welfare at universities, while she has also tasked it with carrying out a review of subject demand, provision and distribution of higher education in Wales.

This will ¡°consider where interventions might be required to ensure 바카라사이트 continuation of strategically important subject areas in Wales that are vital to 바카라사이트 success of public services¡±, she added. ?

Wales has already increased its tuition fee cap for 바카라사이트 coming academic year to ?9,535, to bring it in line with 바카라사이트 English equivalent, 바카라사이트 second time in?a year that fees will increase.

A Universities Wales spokesperson welcomed 바카라사이트 announcement, which?¡°comes at a crucial time for our universities, who are facing some of 바카라사이트 most pressing, difficult financial circumstances in recent memory¡±.

The money will ¡°provide much-needed short-term investment to our institutions¡±, 바카라사이트y added, but ¡°바카라사이트re is a need to identify medium- to long-term solutions to help tackle 바카라사이트 underlying issues and ensure 바카라사이트 sustainability of our sector¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, called for 바카라사이트 money to be used to protect jobs and course provision, ¡°not frittered away on estate management¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com