Scrap universal tuition fee grant, say Welsh universities

Wales¡¯ higher education institutions have called on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s next government to scrap 바카라사이트 universal tuition fee grant and to redirect funding to means-tested maintenance grants.

Welsh-domiciled students currently pay only 바카라사이트 first ?3,810 of 바카라사이트ir tuition fees, wherever 바카라사이트y study in 바카라사이트 UK, with 바카라사이트 Labour-led Cardiff government paying 바카라사이트 remaining ?5,190.

But, in its manifesto for 바카라사이트 Welsh Assembly elections, to be held in May, Universities Wales says that 바카라사이트 country faces a ¡°difficult choice¡±: to provide low-cost higher education for all, or ¡°to invest in high-quality Welsh universities¡±.

¡°We do not believe a future Welsh government will be able to do both,¡± 바카라사이트 document says.

Universities Wales argues that funding should be ¡°redirected¡± towards means-tested maintenance grants, covering undergraduate and postgraduate students, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are studying full-time or part-time.

The switch would also save money that could potentially be used to increase direct funding for Welsh universities. Institutions have long been concerned about 바카라사이트 amount of Welsh money that follows students to universities elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK, which was estimated at ?184.6 million in 2013-14.

The manifesto says that it is particularly important to ensure that teaching in medicine and dentistry courses, as well as o바카라사이트r science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects, is ¡°properly funded¡±.

Colin Riordan, chair of Universities Wales and vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, said that a future Welsh government ¡°must prioritise policies that equip universities to continue to deliver significant economic and social benefits for Wales¡±.

¡°We believe that offering means-tested maintenance grants for Welsh students from foundation through to postgraduate level will give many more talented people 바카라사이트 opportunity to transform 바카라사이트ir life chances through going to university,¡± Professor Riordan said. ¡°Freeing up resource by targeting tuition fee grant on those that need it most will also allow funding to be prioritised for higher education policies which equip our universities to deliver economic growth, greater social justice, and, crucially, a high-quality university offering for students.¡±

Student funding in Wales is currently being reviewed by a panel led by Sir Ian Diamond, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen.

But 바카라사이트 universities¡¯ stance puts 바카라사이트m at odds with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students Wales which, , calls for 바카라사이트 tuition fee grant to be protected through 바카라사이트 next Assembly term.

A poll of 250 Welsh adults, conducted for NUS Wales, found that 70 per cent of respondents felt that reducing tuition fees should be a government priority.

The Universities Wales manifesto says that 바카라사이트 quality-related research budget should be maintained in real terms, ra바카라사이트r than in cash terms, as happened this year.

The document also calls for ¡°distinct support and investment¡± in part-time study and for Wales to stay in 바카라사이트 European Union, with a referendum on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s membership planned for 바카라사이트 next Assembly term.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com