Plans for HE in Wales announced by Education Minister

29 June 2010

Universities in Wales face closure and mergers under plans announced by Education Minister Leighton Andrews.

From Wales Online:

In a statement to AMs yesterday, he said: “The HEFCW [Higher Education Funding Council for Wales] has determined that by 2013 75% of HEIs in Wales will have an annual income above the UK median, and none will be in the lower quartile. 

“This target does not mean fewer students. But it is likely to mean fewer vice chancellors. We will have significantly fewer HEIs in Wales but they will be larger and stronger. HEFCW will work with HEIs to achieve this smoothly and rapidly with my full backing and of the Cabinet. 

“In line with this approach of consolidation and strengthening, HEFCW will this year devise a new method of funding research from 2011/12 which will support a sharper focus on areas of national priority, and critical mass. 

“This will better equip Welsh HEIs to compete for research funds with other HEIs in the UK and beyond and be world leaders in their field. As a result of these changes I expect to see research income growth equal to or greater than elsewhere in the UK.” 

In its own statement, universities funding body HEFCW yesterday said that it “believes there are too many higher education institutions in Wales for optimal effectiveness under contemporary, highly competitive, conditions”. 

It said it wants to see “substantially fewer institutions, better able to take risks, withstand shocks, and remain innovative into the longer term”. 

Roger Thomas, chair of HEFCW, said: “We plan to work with providers to build a first class higher education system in Wales that will perform at a high level and make best use of available funds, which is particularly important in the current economic climate. 

“We have already started to target our funding to drive forward strategic goals.” 

The body which represents universities in Wales, Higher Education Wales (HEW), said it would work with HEFCW and the minister on the plans. 

Prof Noel Lloyd, chairman of HEW, said: “Discussions regarding future arrangements to deliver for students are proceeding apace in Wales, including a major new collaborative grouping between Trinity University College, Swansea Metropolitan University, and three FE colleges in South West Wales, while the University of Wales, Newport, is working with regional FE college partners. 

“We have also seen the launch of the Aber-Bangor Skills Centre, and the launch of the Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute. We expect forthcoming discussions regarding regional strategies for higher education to improve the opportunities for new arrangements.” 

He added: “Financial constraints are uppermost in people’s minds at present but it is important not to lose sight of the long term benefits that higher education will bring to Wales. 

“The strategies show a deep understanding of these long term benefits. We must focus on the quality and value of the experience we offer to students, support them to complete their studies, and equip them with the skills they will require to find employment. 

“The fundamental importance of our international reputation and activities is also well understood, particularly to maximise the value we deliver to Wales.” 

You can read the statement and the debate here or watch the recording here

CDG and UC&R Wales – Dylan Thomas Literary Trail

The “lovely, ugly town” of Swansea is the birthplace of Dylan Marlais Thomas, one of the most famous poets writing in the English language in the Western World during the twentieth century….. Dylan (as everyone seems to know him) was born in Swansea on 27 October 1914, and lived at 5, Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands, until he was twenty.  During this period he wrote approximately two thirds of all his poetry together with many of his short stories and copious letters.
From ‘Poets, Priests and Pubs’ by Paul Barrett

On Sunday 11 July 2010, the Wales divisions of the Career Development Group and UC&R will be meeting up to hold their joint annual sponsored walk.  This year we will be heading for Swansea City Centre to follow the Dylan Thomas Literary Trail.  We won’t be using sponsorship forms this year.  Instead we’ll be asking for a minimum donation of £2.50 per walker (children free).  Money raised will be split equally between our respective charities:

Career Development Group – International Projects (in support of libraries and information professionals in the developing world)
http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/special-interest-groups/careerdevelopment/what-we-do/international/Pages/international.aspx

Book Aid International
http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/special-interest-groups/ucr/activities/pages/charity.aspx

You don’t have to be a CDG or UC&R (or even a CILIP) member to attend, and please bring along as many colleagues, friends and family as you can. 

For bookings and further information, please contact Elizabeth Kensler – 01970 621848 / eak@aber.ac.uk

The Welsh Information Literacy Project

This is a new project led by WHELF in partnership with public libraries, schools and further education. The aim is to raise the profile of information literacy in Wales and work towards a national framework. We plan to promote the understanding and development of information literacy in all education sectors, in the workplace, the home and the wider community.

The rationale for undertaking this project is to raise awareness that information literacy is a key skill in the 21st century, one which can contribute towards the vision and goals set out in One Wales: A progressive agenda for the government of Wales:

“Unlocking the potential of Wales’s people is vital to our prosperity. We will equip people with the skills they need, at all levels, to enable them to make the best possible contribution to the economy and their communities, and to fulfil their individual potential.

Our vision is of a society in which learning throughout life is the norm, where the people of Wales are actively engaged in acquiring new knowledge and skills from childhood to old age.”

This new project will aim to provide practical evidence of good practice in Wales by developing case studies, which can be used to highlight work across all sectors. It will also begin the process of mapping information literacy across the curriculum by developing a framework which can be used in conjunction with existing skills frameworks in Wales.

Information Literacy Development Officer
An Information Literacy Development Officer is being recruited to work from July 2010 to March 2011 and will be based at Cardiff University. The Project will be managed by Cathie Jackson, Senior Consultant in Information Literacy at Cardiff.

Project Steering Group
Members of the steering group: Christine Clark, Regional Development Officer, South East Wales; Karl Drinkwater, RSC Wales; Christine George, Torfaen; Alison Harding, Trinity University College; Carolyn Howe, Coleg Glan Hafren; Meinir Howells, Cwmtawe Community School; Cathie Jackson, Cardiff University; Sue Mace, WHELF; Mandy Powell, CILIP Wales; Liz Smith, Pembroke School; Lisa Thomas, Caerphilly; Alyson Tyler, CyMAL; Nicola Watkinson, Glyndŵr University. The Steering Group is chaired by Hywel James, Gwynedd (representing SCL Wales).

The project aims to deliver: 

An overarching statement on information literacy in Wales.

A report on information literacy provision in each library sector in Wales, identifying case studies of good practice and gaps requiring further enhancement.

A web presence for the project via library.wales.org

A draft framework for information literacy in Wales that will provide notional levels of information literacy skills and competences for all levels of learners.

Specific outcomes will be: 

• Evidence of improved partnership working on information literacy.
• Evidence of engagement with the education sector.
• To raise the profile of the project and awareness of its progress through the web pages, articles and presentations.

Your advice, help and support is always welcome – please contact Project Manager Cathie Jackson (JacksonCM@cardiff.ac.uk) or any member of the Steering Group for more information.

This project is part-funded by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Libraries for Life strategy of its CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries division.

WRN Repository Stream at Gregynog

The presentations delivered at the repository stream are now available online from the WRN website at: http://www.wrn.aber.ac.uk/en/gregynog.html.

In order to evaluate the training we deliver as a project we look to collect feedback wherever possible to feedback to our sponsors JISC. Therefore, if you did attend the repository, and haven’t already filled out and returned the paper version, could we please ask you to take a few moments to complete an online feedback form available from http://www.wrn.aber.ac.uk/en/gregynogFeedback.html.

WRN also held a discussion session on the hurdles faced by Repository Administrators when trying to encourage academic buy-in to their systems. As part of the discussions we also suggested solutions for each of the obstacles. We have added the discussions points raised to the WRN blog and we are looking for your input.

Please add comments and suggestions to the blog post, and suggest advocacy ideas that have worked for you. It is hoped this exchange of ideas will aid both our WRN community and the repository community as a whole.

RLUK Announces Election of new Chair of the RLUK Board

RLUK is very pleased to announce that Phil Sykes has been elected Chair of the RLUK Board as of 1 July 2010.

Phil Sykes, University Librarian at Liverpool University since 2004, takes on the role of Chair at a time of great opportunities for research libraries, but also potential threats as public spending tightens. He said: “This is an enormously exciting time to be taking over as chair of RLUK. Our libraries are more central to the work of the universities they serve than they’ve ever been; they have more to offer than they’ve ever had; and the financial pressures we are under make it imperative that research libraries work creatively together to provide services that are both excellent and efficient.”

Phil Sykes was a speaker at the recent Welsh Libraries Conference in Llandrindod.

SCONUL Top Concerns Survey 2010

With thanks to Chris West of Swansea University who organised it, SCONUL have announced the posting of the 2010 Top Concerns Survey on their website at
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/members/topconcerns/report2010.pdf

A librarian takes on Google Books

What’s the point of a library or a librarian in the digital era? Who needs a physical space for books and archives, and librarians to police their use, when all that material will soon be available to anyone with a decent internet connection at the click of a mouse?

On a visit to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth last week, the BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones got a few answers to those questions. Read more on his blog

A new vision to transform education in South West Wales

On Wednesday, 2 June a new vision for post-16 education in South West Wales was unveiled at the National Urdd Eisteddfod, Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion.

The vision is to establish a regional educational group comprising two universities and three FE colleges in South West Wales to create a dual sector group structure providing meaningful educational pathways, enhancing student choice and developing joint educational provision which responds to the needs of employers.

A declaration of intent was announced between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (created by 1 September by the merger of Trinity University College and the University of Wales Lampeter), Swansea Metropolitan University, Pembrokeshire College,  Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion.

Dr Medwin Hughes, Vice-Chancellor Designate of UW Trinity Saint David, said “In addressing the various policy directives identified by the Welsh Assembly Government, the higher education sector in Wales faces major strategic challenges. The For Our Future strategy identifies the necessity to consider the implications of strategic partnerships and new reconfiguration models.  This proposal builds upon the current reconfiguration already approved by the Welsh Assembly Government within the region with the creation of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David”.

He continued “The time is right to establish new educational structures which will transform the educational landscape. Wales needs to be innovative in its educational system and delivery frameworks in order to establish regional groupings which will enhance economic delivery, support social capital and drive forward greater regional post 16 educational pathways. In doing so, we will secure greater synergy in our skills delivery and establish far stronger strategic partnerships with business, employers and work-based learning providers”.

Professor David Warner, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea Metropolitan University, said “The possibility of both Swansea Metropolitan University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David coming together within a new unified educational infrastructure is based upon a long standing tradition of collaboration and of sharing common values, mission and educational provision. Both universities focus upon a clear regional mission and deliver quality provision which enhances regional progression.”

The Statement of Intent between the two universities, Coleg Sir Gâr, Pembrokeshire College and Coleg Ceredigion proposes to establish a new Post-16 regional strategic alliance for the South West within a collegiate structure.

Press release