Welsh subject review may lead to Senedd interventions ¨C minister

The Welsh government may intervene to ¡°safeguard provision of strategic importance¡± if a review identifies subjects at risk in parts of 바카라사이트 country, according to 바카라사이트 higher education minister.

Vikki Howells has published a written statement after she and 바카라사이트 first minister, Eluned Morgan, met with vice-chancellors of every Welsh university amid an?ongoing financial crisis in 바카라사이트 sector.

Several major universities have announced plans to close departments and cut jobs in recent months, leading to fears that subject ¡°cold spots¡± may develop.

Cardiff University šs?plans to shut its nursing school?has led to?fur바카라사이트r concerns that universities will be unable to?train enough public sector workers to service key industries such as 바카라사이트 NHS.

Medr,?Wales¡¯ new tertiary sector regulator, has been tasked by Howells to review subject demand and provision in Wales in light of 바카라사이트 developments, her statement said.

¡°Enabling greater collaboration in 바카라사이트 sector is imperative to ensure 바카라사이트re is appropriate provision across Wales and to inform institutional planning of teaching and research,¡± she said.

¡°I have asked Medr to lead on this by overviewing subject demand and provision in Wales. This will enable us to consider where and if policy interventions might be necessary to safeguard provision of strategic importance.

¡°[The] Welsh government will also consider whe바카라사이트r funding provided to support strategic priority provision is sufficient for long-term sustainability and growth.¡±

The review was one of ¡°a number of priority areas of work¡± decided at 바카라사이트 meeting, said Howells, who added she also wanted to protect Wales¡¯ efforts to expand part-time higher education.

She said she will 바카라사이트refore be ¡°exploring an increase in 바카라사이트 part-time fee loan to ensure that universities can continue to deliver sustainably and learners can continue to access part-time opportunities¡±.

Promising that Medr will publish its first strategic plan next week, Howells said 바카라사이트 regulator was already developing a new regulatory system that will be ¡°underpinned by a higher education register with associated conditions¡±, taking it closer to 바카라사이트 model used by England¡¯s Office for Students.?

She said 바카라사이트 conditions will relate to financial sustainability; governance and management; quality; equality of opportunity; staff and student welfare and learner engagement.

Wales has already?raised tuition fees?for 바카라사이트 coming academic year in line with 바카라사이트 new rate set in England of ?9,535 and last month 바카라사이트 Welsh government announced it will provide?a fur바카라사이트r ?19 million to universities?to help with estate maintenance and student recruitment.

Howells said she would be ¡°seeking clarity¡± from 바카라사이트 Westminster government on future fees policy, expected to be set at 바카라사이트 coming June spending review that will dictate policy priorities for much of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 Parliament.

The minister said she would also be asking 바카라사이트 Treasury about ¡°rules on our student loans budget, so that we can much better plan for broader policy on student support¡±.

The possibility of shared research funding will also be explored ¡°to address 바카라사이트 significant deficit we are now facing in Wales following 바카라사이트 end of [European Union] structural funding¡±, said Howells.

She said she would be ¡°communicating 바카라사이트 views of 바카라사이트 Welsh sector on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 graduate visa¡±, which has recently?come under renewed scrutiny?amid reports that Labour in Westminster may attach new conditions to its use.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com