Wednesday 25 June,
14.30, Committee Room 16
On Wednesday 25 June, the Welsh Affairs
Committee will hear from the leaders of all nine Welsh
universities about their finances and the systemic challenges
they face.
Several universities across Wales have announced jobs cuts amid a
funding shortfall, with Cardiff University last week confirming
220 job losses and an end to degrees in ancient history and
religion and theology, following a consultation.
The session will be an opportunity to examine both specific cases
of universities in acute financial hardship, and the wider
challenges facing the whole sector, including whether there is an
end to the current crisis in sight.
The Committee has previously raised these issues with the First
Minister, who told the Committee there needs to be a ‘radical
revision' of the funding of universities.
The Committee is likely to ask about the decline in student
applications, the impact of financial constraints on staff and
students, and the effects of the UK Government's immigration
white paper on international students
Other topics which may be discussed include pension schemes, the
impact of UKRI funding on Welsh universities and how institutions
can better co-operate with each other.
Witnesses
From 14.30:
-
Professor Rachael Langford, Vice-Chancellor,
Cardiff Metropolitan University
-
Dr Ben Calvert, Vice-Chancellor, University of
South Wales
· Professor Elwen Evans
KC, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wales Trinity St
David
· Professor Joe
Yates, Vice-Chancellor, Wrexham University
· Ben Lewis,
Director, Open University in Wales
From 15.15:
· Professor Jon
Timmis, Vice-Chancellor, Aberystwyth University
[virtual]
· Professor Edmund
Burke, Vice-Chancellor, Bangor University [virtual]
· Professor Wendy
Larner, Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University [virtual]
· Professor Paul Boyle
CBE, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University [virtual]
