Welsh universities facing desperate funding crisis slammed as 'poorly run'
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, warned of the 'real danger' of a university in Wales collapsing next year, as Unison called for 'urgent' action
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Wales Online readers have been discussing a stark warning made by a union leader that there is a "real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year".
Dan Beard, chair of Unison Cymru's higher education forum, cautioned the Senedd's education committee: "Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly."
His ominous forecast was made on the same day as Welsh university vice chancellors expressed to MPs their "optimism" about their institutions' survival.
During an inquiry into higher education, prompted by cuts across Welsh institutions, Unison urged immediate ministerial intervention. "Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another," Mr Beard informed the inquiry. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Unison criticised the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as "nowhere near enough", highlighting Cardiff's £30m deficit alone. "Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses," the union stated in its written evidence.
University chiefs also informed MPs that the additional £18m they received from the Welsh Government this year had been offset by increased national insurance costs. They asked for a rise in domestic tuition fees to match inflation.
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Commenting on the story, Theseldomseenkid asks: 'I thought these places were businesses? Why should they receive any funding from the government?'
Tjh52 agrees: 'If private schools must manage their finances; then so should universities!'
Harpinon adds: 'With the fees youngsters pay for these degrees, why are taxpayers paying also? These are businesses that have been poorly run and should be treated as that.'
Daio99 thinks: 'Close them and encourage teenagers to learn a trade.'
But Barrian retorts: 'Where do you think doctors, pharmacists, paramedics etc come from?'
Oldcastle says: 'I work at one of these universities, specifically, I develop cures and treatments for devastating diseases. Inventions that were born at welsh universities are used around the world to improve and save millions of lives.
"We invented the technology that most medical DNA tests use to this day. We invented the tech in breathalysers. But the money made from these inventions doesn't go to the universities, it doesn't stay in research, it goes to the companies who buy rights and then sell the inventions and their shareholders.
'Companies focus on profit and won't invest in risky, long-term research. Public funding fills that gap, allowing universities to innovate and create technologies that benefit everyone. Without it, breakthroughs like DNA testing tech wouldn't exist. Supporting universities is an investment in society, not 'scrounging'.'
Airmarshall thinks: 'It is about time the Universities merge as every one has a management structure with Vice Chancellors on significant salaries, all the back office staff and bureaucracy that comes with it. Lots of Universities (former polytechnics) have ballooned taking on too many courses, run at too many sites.'
JoseJones writes: 'It feels like universities are a bit of an industry all of their own, a swirl of institutions/jobs in the name of higher education. Graduates are sold the line that they will have much better prospects if they have a degree, but is that really the case? Higher Education is needed, definitely, but it feels like too many school leavers are pointed towards like it's the be all and end all but it's not.'
Hufeniapoeth agrees: 'Universities should be streamlined and more efficient. We need to cut down on degree courses, some of which have been created and are of little relevance.
"It's time to reduce the number of vice-chancellors and administrative staff. Not everyone has to attend a university, or even those former polytechnics that have morphed into universities. Apprenticeships are just as important, if not more so, and should be promoted.'
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Boredtaxidriver62 states: 'And there it is, a 3 year party at the taxpayer's expense.'
Are you concerned about the state of Welsh universities? What do you think the solution is? Have your say in our comments section.
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