Wales' universities 'in crisis', unions warn
Wales' universities are in 'crisis' and risk being brought 'to their knees' - the warnings of two unions working in the sector.
There has been a series of job losses and course closures announced in recent months as higher education institutions try to deal with a funding shortfall and mounting debts.
Representatives of Unison and the Universities and College Union (UCU) have been giving evidence to the Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee today (Wednesday.)
In its written evidence, Unison - which represents support staff - wrote that, 'Welsh universities are in crisis. Hundreds of job losses are expected with a catastrophic effect on staff, institutions, students, communities and the Welsh economy.
'It's dishonest for universities to talk about enhancing the student experience when this is significantly undermined by the scale of job cuts.
'There's an urgent need for Welsh government to decide what it wants the HE sector to deliver and for this to be properly funded. It must produce a detailed industrial strategy which outlines the skills and number of graduates Wales requires for the future across a range of jobs and ensure universities have the capacity to train these young people.'
Meanwhile, UCU, which speaks for academic staff, wrote that 'UCU Cymru notes that Higher Education has suffered systematic failure and neglect which, combined with the recent hike in operating costs, risks bringing many Welsh institutions to their knees.'
During the committee meeting Gareth Lloyd of UCU said 'The danger is, if we're not careful, this is going to have a really detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there. And that really, really worries me.'
Speaking to ITV Wales after the meeting, Dan Beard of Unison, said that he fears that the job losses won't solve the problem and could make it far worse. He said that, 'My worry is we're going to see a real reduction in capacity and more job losses, perhaps even the collapse of certain universities.'
The political focus on higher education will continue this afternoon in Westminster, when MPs belonging to the Welsh Affairs committee will question the Vice Chancellors and other leaders of all nine universities in Wales.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
40 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Welsh NHS will only help terminally ill end their life if Senedd agrees first
Welsh NHS will only help terminally ill end their life if Senedd agrees first The Senedd will get a say in whether the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will include the Welsh NHS Assisted dying bill protestors gather outside the House of Commons (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror ) The Welsh NHS will only will assist terminally ill people to die if the Senedd agrees to it, the Welsh Parliament has been told. Last week MPs in the House of Commons agreed to legalise an assisted dying bill for terminally ill people in England and Wales. However, the Welsh Parliament has been told today - Wednesday, June 25 - that Senedd members will have a vote on whether assisted dying services will be available in the public sector via the Welsh NHS. As healthcare is devolved in Wales, questions have arisen as to how the new law will work here. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The Senedd will get a say on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in Wales (Image: Senedd Cymru ) In October 2024, the Senedd voted against a law allowing assisted dying to be introduced in Wales. But, last week, a suggestion of allowing the Senedd to have a veto over all the important parts of the law was taken out by MPs. Article continues below Today, Counsel General Julie James was asked by MS Tom Giffard whether the Senedd will have a say in the decision regarding the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. He asked: "Can you outline what discussions you have had with the UK Government to stand up for the voice of this Senedd, to ensure that we do have a say? "And do you have an assurance from the UK Government that, if this LCM in this Senedd produces a different outcome to the vote in Parliament, our decision will be respected by the UK Government?" Article continues below Ms James, the Welsh Government's most senior legal adviser, confirmed: "Just to reassure the member, and, indeed, all Members of the Senedd, the Bill still contains the key provisions that mean that the NHS or any public body in Wales will not be able to provide voluntary assisted dying services until regulations have been laid by Ministers and there has been an affirmative vote in the Senedd to that effect." A vote is expected to take place in the Senedd this autumn regarding the bill and whether it agrees to the legislation applying in areas controlled by the Senedd.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns The prediction comes as one university Vice Chancellor described the current funding situation to MPs as 'like tumbling around in a washing machine' Vice Chancellors call for higher home tuition fees linked to inflation (Image: Richard Williams/WalesOnline ) There is a "real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year," a union boss has warned. Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' He made the prediction on the same day Welsh university vice chancellors told MPs that they are "optimistic" they will survive. Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Professor Elwen Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but said it was just too expensive. (Image: Aled Llywelyn ) Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough', with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Article continues below One vice chancellor echoed the union's sentiment. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee: "The system at the moment does not lend itself to sustainability." MPs were also told by university bosses that the extra £18m they received from the Welsh Government this year had been wiped out by higher national insurance bills. They called for domestic tuition fees to be raised to keep pace with inflation and help them stabilise. The vice chancellors of all eight Welsh universities, as well as the head of the Open University in Wales gave evidence while unions including UCU and Unison were grilled by members of the Senedd Children Young People and Education Committee. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Changes to visa rules for dependents were hitting applications from higher paying international students. This had come at the same time as they faced soaring national insurance contributions, inflation and near static domestic fees. Cardiff Metropolitan University Vice Chancellor Rachael Langford told MPs that the effect of changing government policies and rising costs in recent years made it tough to plan ahead, but she and other vice chancellors were confident the cuts they make will secure the future. Cardiff Met is among institutions shedding staff. A rally against proposed Cardiff University cuts at the Senedd "We are working hard to make sure we are still here in 10 years," said Professor Langford, "I think we will do that but we need more policy coherence (from the government). "We need more coherence in immigration, education and treasury policy. There has been a lack of coherence. It feels like we are tumbling around in a washing machine sometimes." Dr Ben Calvert, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Wales told MPs he was more than confident about his institution, which has also announced job cuts. "I think we will be OK. I think USW is in a strong cash position," he said, but admitted this could only be achieved by "rationalising". Professor Edmund Burke, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, which is axing jobs to save £15m, said this action should mean the 140 year-old institution lasts another century and beyond. Aberystwyth University Vice Chancellor Professor Jon Timms and Professor Elwen Evans Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said the savings they make would also put them on sounder financial footing. Professor Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but it was just too expensive. Cardiff University (Image: John Myers ) Swansea and Cardiff's vice chancellors were more muted, saying a sustainable funding model now is vital but Wrexham University Vice Chancellor Joe Yates warned rising fees could deter applications. Professor Wendy Larner, Vice Chancellor at Cardiff, which has caused outcry over its sweeping cuts to save £28m, said she was only "reasonably confident" about the sector's ability to re-invent itself in a new global and financial landscape. "I don't think we are seeing a short term financial challenge," Professor Larner warned MPs. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle questioned the "sustainability" of the current system. Article continues below The evidence sessions to the committees came at a tumultuous time for institutions with job losses and course closures. The most high profile cuts are at Cardiff University but the sector as a whole in Wales has already forecast deficits of at least £70m at the end of this academic year, with only Wrexham and UWTSD posting modest surpluses last year. The issue is reflected around the UK with around 70% of universities having to make savings. But Wales has the lowest rates of 18-year-olds applying to university, of all the UK nations and has also been hit by falling research income.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Three committees complain of ‘inadequate consultation' over welfare reforms
A letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall also said there had been a 'lack of robust data' to allow parliamentarians in the three areas to 'effectively scrutinise' the potential impact of the changes. The letter, sent by the Scottish Parliament's Social Justice and Social Security Committee together with the Equality and Social Justice Committee of the Welsh Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Communities, comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion from Labour MPs against the proposed changes. We, alongside @nia_communities & @seneddequality, have jointly written to @leicesterliz, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to share our concerns about a lack of meaningful engagement on proposed changes to the UK benefits system. Read the letter: — Social Justice and Social Security Committee (@SP_SJSS) June 25, 2025 A Commons vote on the plans to squeeze sickness and incapacity benefits is due to go ahead on Tuesday, despite 120 Labour MPs having publicly backed a move to block the legislation. Meanwhile, the Work and Pensions Secretary was told there are 'significant concerns' about the Government's changes. The letter from the three committees told how the 'economic backdrop' for many of those claiming disability benefits is 'already extremely challenging'. And the committees added that the payments people receive 'are not symptomatic of a 'broken' system, but make a significant contribution to their health and wellbeing'. They told Ms Kendall they were 'agreed that inadequate consultation and engagement by the UK Government with stakeholders and the devolved institutions has contributed to this sense of concern'. Representatives from the committees added: 'In addition, the lack of robust data and jurisdiction-specific impact assessments presents significant challenges for our three committees to effectively scrutinise potential impacts.' Here they insisted they have been 'constrained by the lack of quality information'. They added: 'Our committees fully support the stated ambition that 'no-one should be consigned to a life on benefits just because they have a health condition or a disability, especially when they're able to and want to work with the right support in place'. 'However, in order to contribute meaningfully to the reform process, committees and citizens must be fully informed and offered every opportunity for meaningful engagement.' The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
