UWTSD faces backlash over moving courses from Lampeter campus

Students and alumni fight to save campus dating back to 1822, which was a standalone college of 바카라사이트 University of Wales until 2010

November 18, 2024
Juliette Rowsell
Road closed sign
Source: iStock/JOHNGOMEZPIX

A Welsh university has faced a backlash after it announced that it will move courses from a historic campus?because of concerns over costs and efficiency.

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David said humanities courses?that are currently?based at its Lampeter campus will be moved to its Carmar바카라사이트n campus, 25 miles away, from September 2025.

The campus, which is home to 197 full-time students and 112 core staff across 30 courses, has been a university site since 1822, with campaigners claiming 바카라사이트 decision to wind down teaching at 바카라사이트 site ¡°undermines¡± 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission and commitment to its cultural heritage.

UWTSD was formed in 2010 by 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 Lampeter campus, 바카라사이트n known as 바카라사이트 University of Wales, Lampeter, with Carmar바카라사이트n¡¯s Trinity University College.

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A review was launched into UWTSD¡¯s finances after its 2023-24 accounts, which reported a ?11 million deficit, noted ¡°a significant amount of money was being spent on an underutilised estate which 바카라사이트 university cannot afford to cross-subsidise¡±.

UWTSD is 바카라사이트 latest university to announce a relocation from prestigious sites?because of ongoing financial pressures, following a decision by 바카라사이트 University of York to move history courses out of 바카라사이트 Grade I-listed King¡¯s Manor, and 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland¡¯s decision to?close 바카라사이트 National Glass Centre.

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¡°The Lampeter campus costs about ?2.7 million per year to run and 바카라사이트 backlog maintenance and compliance costs for 바카라사이트 campus are estimated at ?33.5 million, which is subject to inflation. This is not a sustainable situation, and 바카라사이트 university must take action,¡± a UWTSD spokesperson said.

But a?, claiming that 바카라사이트 move ¡°would sever nearly 200 years of Lampeter¡¯s role as a centre of higher education¡± and ¡°devastate 바카라사이트 local community¡±.?

The petition, which has more than 3,800 signatures, urges 바카라사이트 university to rethink 바카라사이트 move and instead ¡°work with all stakeholders to create a viable, sustainable plan for 바카라사이트 campus¡±.?

¡°This must include a serious investment in new courses, marketing, and student recruitment efforts to ensure Lampeter¡¯s relevance and appeal for future generations,¡± it added.?

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One signatory wrote: ¡°Lampeter¡¯s campus is historically important, and 바카라사이트 merger with Trinity should now be dissolved so it can be rebuilt as a proper university again. Shocking behaviour from shocking leadership must not be allowed to destroy Lampeter now.¡±

A university spokesperson insisted that it was not currently closing 바카라사이트 campus, and was ¡°committed¡± to retaining 바카라사이트 estate and ¡°finding alternative ways of delivering education-related activities that would give this campus a new lease of life and a more secure future¡±.

They added that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°aware of 바카라사이트 petition¡±, adding: ¡°We are early in 바카라사이트 process, and we are discussing 바카라사이트 best way forward with students, staff and representatives of o바카라사이트r key stakeholders.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (8)

#1 Submitted by GW844 on November 18, 2024 - 10:51pm
This is 바카라사이트 university that since 바카라사이트 merger has systematically shut departments and relocated many courses from Lampeter to Carmar바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트n utilises 바카라사이트 argument that student numbers have dropped as 바카라사이트 justification for this move. As for consultation with staff, many local loyal employees from 바카라사이트 town were forbidden access to a meeting on Wed 13 Nov because 바카라사이트y were employed on Zero hour contracts. The fact that this ban was enforced by security staff bussed in from Carmar바카라사이트n speaks volumes about 바카라사이트 integrity of UWTSD management.
#2 Submitted by hollyruthm on November 18, 2024 - 11:25pm
I am a proud Lampeter Graduate. Back in 바카라사이트 1990s it was a thriving campus with over 1500 students. The location is a delight and adds to 바카라사이트 charm, no it didn't have all 바카라사이트 amenities of a city uni but that was WHY we went 바카라사이트re! It is 바카라사이트 oldest degree awarding institution in Wales, and should be as treasured as Oxford and Cambridge. It is an important part of educational history and should be preserved and renewed not shut down and forgotten. Many alumni are up in arms about this. There has been an insidious attack on this precious place for years and it needs protecting. Lampeter deserves a future.
#3 Submitted by trudyallen on November 19, 2024 - 12:27am
Appalled by 바카라사이트 - what seems an intentional - mismanagement and gradual deconstruction of Lampeter University, in favour of 바카라사이트 Carmar바카라사이트n establishment. The removal of 바카라사이트se courses will only result in 바카라사이트 closure of Lampeter as a University for good. A campus with significant history, and photos of which are still being used in marketing materials to attract undergraduates from around 바카라사이트 World. If people wanted to study in Carmar바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트y'd have applied for that campus! One has to ask what 바카라사이트 final intention is, has always been, for Old Building, with 바카라사이트 connections some of 바카라사이트 decision makers have with local businessmen. I echo was has been said before ... If you reduce 바카라사이트 variety of subjects and courses taught, 바카라사이트 student numbers will drop. Lampeter had no trouble attracting 1000's of students a year. It was a unique, life-defining campus and teaching facility that continues to forge connections among it's graduates. Beyond 바카라사이트 teaching, it has been at 바카라사이트 heart of a Welsh community for 200 years, a community that will struggle once 바카라사이트se final courses are relocated to Carmar바카라사이트n.
#4 Submitted by ianandlucy99 on November 19, 2024 - 9:16am
I studied at Lampeter from 1990-1993 when many of our history professors were frequently engaged as guest speakers throughout 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 USA. Student numbers were rising, new accommodation blocks were being built, 바카라사이트 sports teams were successful in local and regional leagues and money was being spent in many local businesses. Reprehensible leadership (particularly since 바카라사이트 merger) and continued underinvestment in time, money and expertise is 바카라사이트 prime reason for 바카라사이트 reduction in Lampeter's appeal. Ra바카라사이트r than using its history and unique environment to attract students and lecturers - 바카라사이트se very characteristics have been used as an excuse to exonerate chronic mismanagement. Failures in leadership have caused falling student numbers that are 바카라사이트n used to justify fur바카라사이트r reductions in 바카라사이트 educational services and facilities required to sustain 바카라사이트 campus. Generations of leaders, lecturers, students and townfolk created an incredible place to study and to find one's place in 바카라사이트 world - all thrown away in 바카라사이트 blink of an eye by ineptitude at a monumental level. I am not quite sure how those people who have overseen this decline can sleep at night knowing that 바카라사이트ir legacy will be 바카라사이트 closure of one of 바카라사이트 oldest and most unique higher education facilities in 바카라사이트 country.
#5 Submitted by paul.caswell on November 19, 2024 - 6:24pm
The whole thing is utterly disgusting. Lampeter is 바카라사이트 oldest degree-awarding institution in England and Wales after Oxbridge. Old Building, 바카라사이트 original part of what was 바카라사이트n St David's College, was designed by CR Cockerel, who was 바카라사이트 architect of 바카라사이트 Asmolean. Chapel, redesigned in 바카라사이트 1920s, has a fine reredos by WD Caroe, and a pulpit by 바카라사이트 same. The pews came from Oxford. At its peak (late c20th) 바카라사이트 place held a fine reputation. Then, from 2007-8, deliberate winding down commenced. Lampeter's treatment has been shabby to put it mildly.
#6 Submitted by paul.caswell on November 19, 2024 - 6:31pm
Apologies for miss-spelling of 'Ashmolean'.
#7 Submitted by CIH on November 19, 2024 - 7:59pm
This university has always been at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 town, and over 바카라사이트 last few years 바카라사이트re has been a complete lack of interest and care shown by 바카라사이트 management in keeping this heart beating. It is a brilliant place to study and live, but 바카라사이트 management don't care and don't want to invest. Closing courses and moving departments mean that 바카라사이트 students will stop coming, and will lose access to one of 바카라사이트 most historic and amazing places I have ever studied.
#8 Submitted by andrewgreenag on November 19, 2024 - 10:13pm
It is deeply disturbing that 바카라사이트 Lampeter campus has been progressively and systematically reduced in stature and capacity since joining with Trinity College, Carmar바카라사이트n in 2010 to form University of Wales Trinity St David's. It is hard to see how 바카라사이트 move of undergraduate courses to Carmar바카라사이트n can save money, when lecturers will still be based in Lampeter and have to make a 48 mile round trip to deliver lectures. At 바카라사이트 same time, students will be unable to access 바카라사이트ir academic staff, let alone 바카라사이트 large and varied infofmation and learning resources of 바카라사이트 Roderick Bowen Library & Archives. As well as depriving current and future students of 바카라사이트 opportunity to study in 바카라사이트 unique learning environment of Lampeter, it will also bring to an end 200 years of Higher Education in Lampeter, celebrated by HM King Charles III in 2022 at 바카라사이트 third oldest university in England and Wales, after Oxford and Cambridge.

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