Welsh subject review may lead to Senedd interventions – minister

The Welsh government may intervene to “safeguard provision of strategic importance” if a review identifies subjects at risk in parts of the country, according to the higher education minister.

Vikki Howells has published a written statement after she and the first minister, Eluned Morgan, met with vice-chancellors of every Welsh university amid an ongoing financial crisis in the 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’s plans to shut its nursing school has led to further concerns that universities will be unable to train enough public sector workers to service key industries such as the NHS.

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

“Enabling greater collaboration in the sector is imperative to ensure there 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 whether funding provided to support strategic priority provision is sufficient to for long-term sustainability and growth.”

The review was one of “a number of priorities areas of work” decided at the meeting, said Howells, who added she also wanted to protect Wales’ efforts to expand part-time higher education.

She said she will therefore be “exploring an increase in the 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 the regulator was already developing a new regulatory system that will be “underpinned by a higher education register with associated conditions”, taking it closer to the model used by England’s Office for Students. 

She said the 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 the coming academic year in line with the new rate set in England of £9,535 and last month the Welsh government announced it will provide a further £19 million to universities to help with estate maintenance and student recruitment.

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

The minister said she would also be asking the 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 the significant deficit we are now facing in Wales following the end of [European Union] structural funding”, said Howells.

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

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com