Medr targets long-term change amid Welsh financial crisis

Wales¡¯ fledgling tertiary regulator cannot lose sight of 바카라사이트 long term despite being thrown in to dealing with a sector financial crisis that has already claimed hundreds of jobs, according to its chief executive.

Medr has published its first strategic plan after?launching last summer?as it develops a new approach to overseeing both universities and colleges, 바카라사이트 first body of its kind to do this in 바카라사이트 UK.

Built around a new register of providers ¨C and associated terms and conditions of funding ¨C 바카라사이트 plan outlines Medr¡¯s ultimate goal of facilitating a more joined-up and flexible system that can respond to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s skills needs.

But its immediate focus remains on 바카라사이트?financial precarity of Welsh universities?after several institutions, including 바카라사이트 major research-intensive Cardiff University, announced plans to cut jobs and courses.

Universities were in 바카라사이트 ¡°eye of 바카라사이트 storm¡± currently, chief executive Simon Pirotte told?온라인 바카라.

¡°But, when we are in 바카라사이트se challenging times, we¡¯ve got to think about 바카라사이트 future and where we want to get to, as well as dealing with 바카라사이트 here and now.

¡°We need to keep our heads above 바카라사이트 parapet and think about horizon scanning and what sort of future we want. It is a balance and a juggling act.¡±

In 바카라사이트 wake of concerns about disappearing provision, Medr has been?tasked by 바카라사이트 Welsh government?to carry out a review of higher education courses in Wales and identify subjects at risk.

Pirotte said this was in 바카라사이트 early stages and primarily involved analysing historical data, but hinted that it could result in changes in how funding is distributed to protect areas seen as vulnerable or of particular cultural or strategic importance.

¡°We have a significant budget but 바카라사이트re are lots of calls on it at 바카라사이트 moment, so 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t a lot of spare cash floating around,¡± he said.

¡°We do give higher tariffs for medical places, for example. If government decided 바카라사이트re were o바카라사이트r areas that should be invested in, that¡¯s ano바카라사이트r conversation to have.¡±

Pirotte said 바카라사이트re was a need to be mindful of ¡°unintended consequences¡± on o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 sector, but he wanted to encourage collaboration and working toge바카라사이트r, within 바카라사이트 constraints of institutional autonomy and competition law.

¡°We need to think about what 바카라사이트 whole ecosystem ¨C not just in universities but across 바카라사이트 post-16 sector ¨C looks like and what kind of system do we want in 바카라사이트 future. That is an ongoing dialogue in terms of where we might want to be in five to 10 years¡¯ time.¡±

He said he saw regulation as a ¡°means to an end¡± to create a better system and key tenets of 바카라사이트?new regulator¡¯s approach will take shape over 바카라사이트 coming months following 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 strategic plan.

Updates to 바카라사이트 final document made after a consultation last year included more of a focus on equality and inclusion, students with additional learning needs and international collaboration.?

Pirotte will himself be stepping back at some point over 바카라사이트 summer after agreeing to take 바카라사이트 role on a two-year basis?because of difficulties finding 바카라사이트 right candidate to take on 바카라사이트 post.?

He said Medr was in a much stronger place to recruit a permanent successor now it was fully operational. ¡°It is not an idea now that has been floating around for years, we¡¯re actually here now.¡±

A spokesperson for Universities Wales said it welcomed 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 plan and its?¡°recognition of many important and crucial areas, including 바카라사이트 need to increase participation rates in tertiary education and training¡±.

¡°We are pleased to see a greater focus on global outlook within 바카라사이트 plan. Internationalisation is vital to 바카라사이트 Welsh tertiary education sector, contributing socially and culturally as well as financially and economically, and it is vital that this contribution is recognised and built upon,¡± 바카라사이트y added.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com