NDM7101 Plaid Cymru debate - The Higher Education Sector
NDM7101 Plaid Cymru debate - The Higher Education Sector
NDM7101 Rhun
ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes the serious financial crisis facing the Welsh higher education sector,
with significant job losses announced over the last twelve months amid concerns
as to the financial sustainability of individual institutions.
2.
Calls on the Welsh Government to commission an urgent review of the financial
sustainability of the Welsh university sector.
3.
Calls on the Welsh Government to give HEFCW an explicit mandate to intervene to
prevent the bankruptcy of any higher education institution in Wales in the
immediate future, by means of an emergency loan if necessary.
4.
Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that any public funding to a Welsh
university is contingent on vice-chancellor salaries being no more than five
times median earnings.
5.
Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the adequacy and transparency of
university oversight and governance arrangements, especially in relation to the
expenditure of public funds.
6.
Calls on the Welsh Government to remit HEFCW, and any successor body, to
exercise a partnership approach with students and university staff at all
levels of decision-making, and to require universities to take account of
student and staff views in making staffing decisions.
The
following amendments have been tabled:
Amendment
1 - Rebecca
Evans (Gower)
Delete
all and replace with:
1. Recognises:
a. that
Universities in Wales and the UK are independent and autonomous institutions;
b. the
financial challenges facing the Higher Education sector across the UK,
including Brexit and the decline in the number of 18 year olds;
2. Welcomes:
a. the
introduction by the Welsh Government of the most generous student support
system in the UK, and the significant increases in the number of part-time and
post graduate students in Wales;
b. the
introduction of a fair and sustainable funding settlement for Welsh
universities and the commitment to increase funding to HEFCW in each financial
year for the lifetime of this Welsh Government;
c. the
sector-wide commitment in Wales to pay the real living wage to all staff, the
increased openness and transparency in the reporting of senior pay, measures
being taken to address the gender pay gap and the adoption of the Code of
Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains;
d. that
Wales is the best performing nation in the UK for student satisfaction;
3. Notes
the Welsh Government’s remit to HEFCW to work in partnership with the sector to
increase openness and transparency around the use of fee income and to
strengthen governance and accountability.
Code
of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains
[If
amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected]
Amendment
2- Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
Delete
point 3.
Amendment
3 - Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
In
point 4, delete 'is contingent on vice-chancellor salaries being no more than
five times median earnings' and replace with 'includes conditions to tackle
excessive vice chancellor and senior leadership pay'.
Amendment
4 - Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
Add
as new point at end of motion:
Calls
on the Welsh Government to publish the information about the higher education
sector's financial position that it takes into consideration before agreeing
the sector's annual budget allocation.
Business type: Debate
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: Complete
First published: 08/06/2021
Decision due: 26 Jun 2019 by Plenary - Fifth Senedd
Lead member: Rhun ap Iorwerth MS