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Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welsh universities facing desperate funding crisis slammed as 'poorly run'
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. Article continues below 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.' Article continues below 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.
South Wales Argus
25-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Welsh university collapse is a 'real danger', Senedd hears
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough,' with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Unison expressed frustration with the Welsh Government 'waiting to see' how UK ministers respond, cautioning: 'The gravity of the situation means we can't afford to wait.' The trade union said higher education institutions face a dire financial situation, with hundreds of redundancies proposed which could be devastating for Wales. 'There is a real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year,' Unison warned. Gareth Lloyd, Wales official at the University and College Union (UCU), said the union's members felt ambushed by Cardiff University's announcement of job cuts. Pinning a breakdown in trust at the university's door, he told the committee: 'The Cardiff UCU branch responded as they felt appropriate based on their membership.' Mr Lloyd said: 'On every level, discussion has to take place early on – you do not go to the press, make announcements and put people's jobs at risk.' He raised the upsetting impact of the cuts on students as well as UCU members, warning: 'If we're not careful, this could have a real detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there and that really, really worries me.' During the meeting on June 25, Mr Beard added: 'Privately, there were lots of senior leaders in other universities aghast about how Cardiff University went about it…. In the other seven institutions across Wales, they said that's the wrong way to do it.'
South Wales Guardian
25-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Welsh university collapse is a 'real danger', Senedd hears
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough,' with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Unison expressed frustration with the Welsh Government 'waiting to see' how UK ministers respond, cautioning: 'The gravity of the situation means we can't afford to wait.' The trade union said higher education institutions face a dire financial situation, with hundreds of redundancies proposed which could be devastating for Wales. 'There is a real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year,' Unison warned. Gareth Lloyd, Wales official at the University and College Union (UCU), said the union's members felt ambushed by Cardiff University's announcement of job cuts. Pinning a breakdown in trust at the university's door, he told the committee: 'The Cardiff UCU branch responded as they felt appropriate based on their membership.' Mr Lloyd said: 'On every level, discussion has to take place early on – you do not go to the press, make announcements and put people's jobs at risk.' He raised the upsetting impact of the cuts on students as well as UCU members, warning: 'If we're not careful, this could have a real detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there and that really, really worries me.' During the meeting on June 25, Mr Beard added: 'Privately, there were lots of senior leaders in other universities aghast about how Cardiff University went about it…. In the other seven institutions across Wales, they said that's the wrong way to do it.'
Wales Online
25-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns The prediction comes as one university Vice Chancellor described the current funding situation to MPs as 'like tumbling around in a washing machine' Vice Chancellors call for higher home tuition fees linked to inflation (Image: Richard Williams/WalesOnline ) There is a "real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year," a union boss has warned. Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' He made the prediction on the same day Welsh university vice chancellors told MPs that they are "optimistic" they will survive. Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Professor Elwen Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but said it was just too expensive. (Image: Aled Llywelyn ) Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough', with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Article continues below One vice chancellor echoed the union's sentiment. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee: "The system at the moment does not lend itself to sustainability." MPs were also told by university bosses that the extra £18m they received from the Welsh Government this year had been wiped out by higher national insurance bills. They called for domestic tuition fees to be raised to keep pace with inflation and help them stabilise. The vice chancellors of all eight Welsh universities, as well as the head of the Open University in Wales gave evidence while unions including UCU and Unison were grilled by members of the Senedd Children Young People and Education Committee. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Changes to visa rules for dependents were hitting applications from higher paying international students. This had come at the same time as they faced soaring national insurance contributions, inflation and near static domestic fees. Cardiff Metropolitan University Vice Chancellor Rachael Langford told MPs that the effect of changing government policies and rising costs in recent years made it tough to plan ahead, but she and other vice chancellors were confident the cuts they make will secure the future. Cardiff Met is among institutions shedding staff. A rally against proposed Cardiff University cuts at the Senedd "We are working hard to make sure we are still here in 10 years," said Professor Langford, "I think we will do that but we need more policy coherence (from the government). "We need more coherence in immigration, education and treasury policy. There has been a lack of coherence. It feels like we are tumbling around in a washing machine sometimes." Dr Ben Calvert, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Wales told MPs he was more than confident about his institution, which has also announced job cuts. "I think we will be OK. I think USW is in a strong cash position," he said, but admitted this could only be achieved by "rationalising". Professor Edmund Burke, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, which is axing jobs to save £15m, said this action should mean the 140 year-old institution lasts another century and beyond. Aberystwyth University Vice Chancellor Professor Jon Timms and Professor Elwen Evans Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said the savings they make would also put them on sounder financial footing. Professor Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but it was just too expensive. Cardiff University (Image: John Myers ) Swansea and Cardiff's vice chancellors were more muted, saying a sustainable funding model now is vital but Wrexham University Vice Chancellor Joe Yates warned rising fees could deter applications. Professor Wendy Larner, Vice Chancellor at Cardiff, which has caused outcry over its sweeping cuts to save £28m, said she was only "reasonably confident" about the sector's ability to re-invent itself in a new global and financial landscape. "I don't think we are seeing a short term financial challenge," Professor Larner warned MPs. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle questioned the "sustainability" of the current system. Article continues below The evidence sessions to the committees came at a tumultuous time for institutions with job losses and course closures. The most high profile cuts are at Cardiff University but the sector as a whole in Wales has already forecast deficits of at least £70m at the end of this academic year, with only Wrexham and UWTSD posting modest surpluses last year. The issue is reflected around the UK with around 70% of universities having to make savings. But Wales has the lowest rates of 18-year-olds applying to university, of all the UK nations and has also been hit by falling research income.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
UK Motor insurers set for losses after just breaking even in 2025, says EY
UK motor insurers are set to just about break even this year before falling to a loss in 2026, according to industry forecasters. Analysts at EY expect higher claims inflation and falling premiums, driven by heightened competition between insurers, will impede profitability. It forecasts the UK motor insurance market will have a net combined ratio (NCR) - a measure of underwriting profitability - of 100 per cent in 2025, followed by 107 per cent next year. Any number above 100 means insurers pay out more in claims and expenses than they receive in consumer premiums. EY anticipates premiums falling by 6 per cent in 2025 and increasing by 5 per cent in 2026, equivalent to a £10 saving for motorists over the two-year period. By comparison, premiums jumped by 14 per cent last year as insurers sought to offset higher costs resulting from adverse weather conditions, as well as rising raw material and spare parts costs. This helped the UK motor insurance sector achieve a combined operating ratio of 97 per cent despite paying out a record £11.7billion in claims. Premiums started going up in 2022 after the loosening of Covid-related lockdown restrictions led to people travelling in their vehicles more regularly again. While EY expects them to increase next year, it warned that car insurers will probably shrink 'deeper into the red' due to soaring claims costs. Dan Beard, UK insurance partner at EY, said: 'Following just one year of underwriting profitability in the last three, UK motor insurers are once again bracing for challenge in an increasingly uncertain market. 'The rapidly changing geopolitical, economic and regulatory picture, alongside increasing levels of consolidation, are posing very real challenges to motor insurers as they look to steer their pricing and portfolios.' 'Despite this testing environment, insurers will be keenly aware of the need to continue to support customers with better propositions whilst carefully managing costs and delivering on regulatory commitments.' EY's forecasts come amid significant consolidation in the car insurance industry. Aviva has agreed to buy Direct Line Group for £3.7billion, while Ageas intends to acquire Esure from private equity giant Bain Capital in a £1.4billion deal.
