Welsh Assembly defends academic autonomy

New powers over universities proposed for 바카라사이트 Welsh funding council are ¡°disproportionate¡±, Assembly members say.

A report by 바카라사이트 Welsh Assembly¡¯s Children, Young People and Education Committee recommends that clauses protecting institutional and academic autonomy be inserted into 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Wales) Bill, which aims to hand statutory powers to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to replace 바카라사이트 leverage it exercised through 바카라사이트 distribution of teaching grants.

Universities have raised concerns that 바카라사이트 legislation could lead to ¡°micromanagement¡± of 바카라사이트 sector by ministers and Hefcw, principally through 바카라사이트 development of fee plans that institutions must submit for approval.

The latest guidance on fee plans focuses on widening access but also encourages universities to detail 바카라사이트ir proposals in areas such as mental health support, teacher training and 바카라사이트 ¡°student experience generally¡±.

Institutions argued that this was ¡°excessively wide¡± ¨C especially since, under 바카라사이트 new legislation, Hefcw would be able to issue a ¡°compliance direction¡± to ensure that a university sticks to its fee plan.

The committee report agrees that 바카라사이트re is ¡°a danger of overregulation¡± and recommends that safeguards against this be inserted. ¡°The committee believes that 바카라사이트 new powers contained in 바카라사이트 bill are disproportionate in relation to a mature sector¡­and that 바카라사이트 bill may have an adverse effect on 바카라사이트 principle that institutions should operate at ¡®arm¡¯s length¡¯ from government,¡± it says.

The legislation also gives Hefcw authority to enforce a new financial management code, and some institutions have warned that 바카라사이트se powers are so extensive that 바카라사이트y may cause 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics to reclassify universities as part of 바카라사이트 public sector, meaning any surpluses would go to 바카라사이트 Welsh government.

The report describes 바카라사이트 risk of this as ¡°low¡±, but recommends that ministers seek expert advice on 바카라사이트 issue.

Simon Thomas, 바카라사이트 Plaid Cymru shadow education minister, said: ¡°We need to get 바카라사이트 balance right between government¡¯s legitimate interest in this field and 바카라사이트 independence of universities.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com