BBC Wales: After scandal, what happens now to University of Wales?
27 October 2011 – Follow related stories links.
Wales Online: Hefcw are pushing an open door in asking Swansea University to work more with Cardiff
27 October 2011 – Follow related stories links.
Times Higher Education Supplement: We’re not dead, just ‘evolving’
27 October 2011 – University of Wales declares that reports of its demise are premature.
“For years, the co-existence of universities and colleges meant that education establishments used to run alongside each other to serve a local area’s needs, but what happens when major players in the sector join forces and work together to create a new concept which looks at the educational needs of an entire region, in an innovative way?
This radical thinking has led to the creation of dual sector university, developed by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and its further education partners, where the primary aim is to respond to the educational, social and economic needs of the region.”
“The dual-sector university partnership is a working concept which includes Coleg Sir Gâr, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Pembrokeshire College, Coleg Ceredigion with Swansea Metropolitan University joining next year.”
“The financial benefits include shared services. For example, since the partnership, Trinity Saint David is working with Coleg Sir Gâr to deliver degree courses in art and design at the college and at the university which means that students are able to share library, learning and social facilities associated with a university experience.”
For more detail, link to news item: News from Coleg Sirgar
(Thanks to Alison Harding for the link)
Posted in collaboration, Welsh universities
Check out the excellent library blog from Swansea Metropolitan University: http://smulibraryblog.blogspot.com/
From BBC News Wales:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12433322
“An agreement to form a new “super university” in Wales has been described as a “radical” move which “bridges educational boundaries”.
University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), Swansea Metropolitan University and Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen will merge as The University of Wales.
The University of Wales’ history is as a federal body with colleges in Bangor, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Cardiff.
But they have largely separated from the University of Wales recently.
BBC Wales education correspondent Ciaran Jenkins said that for the institution to become a working institution incorporating at least two post-1992 universities is an extremely significant development.
The three institutions in the new merged body may be joined at a later date by University of Wales Newport and Glyndwr University, Wrexham. That would make the new university the biggest in Wales.
In December Education Minister Leighton Andrews challenged universities to “adapt or die”.
The university said its leadership would be “fundamentally different from traditional structures”.
It will be led jointly by Prof Marc Clement, currently vice chancellor of the University of Wales, as president / pro chancellor, and Prof Medwin Hughes – current vice chancellor of Trinity Saint David – will be rector / pro chancellor.
It said each man would have “clearly defined and separate roles”.
“This is a radical step change which bridges educational boundaries and delivers the minister’s vision of providing a joined up approach to the planning of further and higher education across Wales,” said Dr Hughes.”
Posted in news, Welsh universities
Tagged merger, Swansea Metropolitan, Trinity Saint David, University of Wales, UWIC
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.
