What action is the Cabinet Minister taking to support universities following the Higher Education Statistics Agency reporting that three universities in Wales, including Swansea University, are part of the top ten universities in Britain to have the highest deficits as a percentage of income?
Government has committed to taking forward a broad review of higher education funding within the first 100 days of government, with the aim of ensuring that the system is financially sustainable and that more of the overall value of public investment benefits Wales. We intend on commissioning a cross-party and comprehensive review of how universities in Wales are funded to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the sector, that more Welsh Government investment in Higher Education stays in Wales, and that more Welsh students are supported to study in Wales.
Universities in Wales are autonomous and Medr has a statutory duty to monitor their financial sustainability. This includes ensuring providers have credible plans in place to ensure their short-term financial viability and longer-term financial sustainability. Medr will introduce a new regulatory framework from 1 August 2026, supporting Welsh HEIs’ governance and management frameworks and plans for their financial sustainability. My officials and Medr meet regularly to monitor the health of the sector.