World Morning Star
Union warns financial crisis could lead to loss of a Welsh university
UNIVERSITY teachers have warned that a crisis in higher education funding in Wales could see an institution collapse. The warning by UCU Cymru follows a plea from Universities Wales, the body represen
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The warning by UCU Cymru follows a plea from Universities Wales, the body representing all Welsh universities, for an increase to tuition fees.
The body is seeking an increase to the amount paid by Welsh students to more than £10,000, in line with England.
The increased tuition fees are an attempt to plug a £130 million deficit in the sector, university bosses have revealed.
UCU Cymru’s Jamie Insole said: “The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has suggested that the 2027/2028 Wales budget [from the UK government] constitutes one of the worse settlements since the inception of devolution.
“A 2 per cent or 5 per cent funding cut poses an existential threat to smaller universities such as Aberystwyth and Bangor.
“Should a Welsh university collapse, the effects would be off the industrial scale, especially given their status as principal employers, the devastation will reverberate through communities, businesses and regions.
“The new government seeks to retain Welsh graduates whilst developing the economic conditions for good jobs. Sadly, any approach which tolerates merger, consolidation and decline will fatally undermine these ambitions.”
NUS Cymru President Jennifer Taylor said: “Students will always oppose tuition fee rises, just as universities will always call for them.
“No-one should ever be priced out of education and rising tuition fees will only deter risk-averse students from higher education.
“We know universities are struggling, but the bailout shouldn’t fall on students who are already facing their own challenges.
“We all want higher education to thrive in Wales, raising tuition fees is like trying to mop up the ocean with a tea towel.
“The Higher Education Review is the place to be having these complex conversations, so it is disappointing that there is no student representative on the panel.”
A Welsh government spokesperson said: “Higher education is a vital national asset for Wales, but we know the sector faces serious financial pressures.
“That is why we have launched our independent review of higher education, which will examine how the sector is funded and organised to secure a sustainable and successful system into the future.
“We are also actively reviewing the position on tuition fees for 2027/28, taking account of decisions elsewhere in the UK, what they mean for Wales and the implications this may have for learners.”