The Western Mail quotes Professor Philip Gummett, Chief Executive of HEFCW as saying universities in Wales today cannot afford to stand still.
He said the world had moved on and it was time Wales looked at the organisation of its universities with a “spirit of determination” to find a better way of delivering higher education.
HEFCW launched their latest Annual Report and Summary Accounts at their Public Meeting last week.
The report is now available on their website.
Every year HEFCWpublishes a report of their activities to show how successfully they have met their targets and how they have used public funding.
The Annual Report also includes information about HEFCW’s accounts, and a summary of developments in areas which have been given priority over the previous year.
http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/publications/corporate_documents/annual_report.aspx
HEFCW have now published “Enhancing Learning and Teaching through Technology: refreshing the strategy”
http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/documents/publications/circulars/circulars_2011/W11%2032HE%20Enhancing%20Learning%20and%20Teaching%20through%20Technology.pdf
Shortened, updated and with some revised longer-term indicators.
“In publishing the strategy for enhancing learning and teaching through technology for higher education (HE) in Wales from 2007/08 to 2016/17 we recognised that it would need to be reviewed at regular intervals. This circular provides an update to the strategy to take account of changes in technology, the policy context and the HE funding regime.”
Posted in learning & teaching, technology
Tagged HEFCW, learning, teaching, technology
The need for universities with the capacity and critical mass to operate dynamically, effectively and efficiently is a long-established part of the Welsh Government’s policy for higher education. For Our Future, our higher education strategy for Wales, identified the need for radical change in the shape, structure and provision of higher education.
HEFCW’s sets out very clear recommendations for the reconfiguration of the higher education sector in Wales. Representations from stakeholders and the public on these recommendations will be sought over the course of the summer. These will inform any decisions on the most appropriate structure for the sector in the future.
We would like to invite you to send us your views on HEFCW’s proposals. In particular, we would like you to consider the following questions:
Question 1: What are your views on the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales’ (HEFCW’s) report, Future Structure of Universities in Wales?
Question 2: Do you have any comments on the report’s proposals relating to specific higher education institutions?
Question 3: We have asked two specific questions. If you have any related issues which we have not specifically addressed, please use the space below to report these.
Please submit your comments by 05 October 2011, in any of the following ways:
HE Policy Team
Welsh Government
Ffynon Las
Tŷ Glas Avenue
Llanishen, Cardiff
CF83 8WT
See the Welsh Government website for related documents.
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales has announced how £377.1 million of funding for higher education in Wales will be allocated in the academic year (AY) 2011/12.
All its funding will be committed according to priorities in For our Future, the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy for higher education, which includes:
•Widening access to higher education
•Supporting part-time students
•Supporting a buoyant economy through innovation and engagement activities
•Strengthening research performance
•Developing Welsh medium provision in universities
•Encouraging the development of collaboration in regions in order to strengthen support for local learners and employers.
Reflecting the priorities above, HEFCW will distribute £336.7 million teaching and research funding to universities and colleges in Wales, compared to £361.3 million from the previous academic year.
Overall, there will be 4.6% cut in funding with funding for teaching falling by 8.4%. For individual HEIs, the overall impact of the funding changes ranges from a cut of 8.9% to an increase of 16.7%.
There is a good summary in the press release.
Full details of the announcement can be found here:
W11/12HE: Strategic Implementation Allocations 2011/12
This circular sets out HEFCW’s overall budget distribution for the academic year 2011/12, including individual institutional allocations for teaching and research.
HEFCW is an Assembly Government Sponsored Body. They receive an annual remit letter from the Welsh Assembly Government showing work areas for the following year to be delivered through the funding they are allocated.
The 2011-12 Remit Letter from the Welsh Assembly Government is now available on the HEFCW website:
http://www.hefcw.ac.uk/about_he_in_wales/wag_priorities_and_policies/annual_remit_letter_hefcw.aspx
Download HEFCW’s three-year corporate strategy, which sets out their vision and targets for higher education in Wales by the year 2013:
The Strategy will:
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
Posted in funding, news, policy, Welsh universities
Tagged funding, HEFCW, Welsh Assembly
Leighton Andrews’ speech at Cardiff University is worth reading in full:
http://www.leightonandrews.com/2010/05/my-cardiff-lecture.html
