WIREDGOV

People and organisations with an interest in Welsh higher education funding and student finance are being asked to contribute to an ongoing review.

Education Minister, Huw Lewis announced last November that he was commissioning an independent review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales and confirmed he had asked Sir Ian Diamond, the current Vice Chancellor of Aberdeen University to chair it.

The review panel began its work in April and since then has been gathering and evaluating data, research and evidence.

The panel is now looking to widen its evidence base and is calling on individuals and organisations with an interest in Higher Education funding and student finance to respond to its call for evidence.

Education Minister, Huw Lewis said yesterday:

“One of my reasons for commissioning this review was to ensure that our future higher education funding system is equitable and progressive and crucially that it widens access in to Higher Education.

“I have always been clear that this must be an independent review and as such it is vital that the panel considers views and opinions from across the sector.

“This call for evidence will be open from today until late February. I would encourage anyone with an interest in student finance and the HE funding system to feed in their views so these can be fully considered ahead of the review panel’s final report in 2016.”

Sir Ian Diamond, Chair of the Review Panel said:

“The Review Panel has been asked to provide innovative recommendations on student finance and higher education funding which are financially sustainable and which ensure a successful higher education system across Wales.

“As Chair of the Review, I want to make sure that the Panel hears the views of as many interested parties as possible. I would, therefore, encourage individuals and organisations to respond to this call for evidence so that we can take their views into account as we form our recommendations.”

In commissioning the review, the Education Minister said he wanted any future higher education funding system to be equitable and progressive and have to have widening access at its core.

He also said that any future system needed to support the skills needs of Wales, to strengthen part-time and post graduate provision and to ensure long term financial stability.

The Review Panel has been asked to produce a factual summary of the evidence collected by autumn 2015 and a final report by September 2016.  
The call for evidence and questionnaire is available on the Welsh Government website. It will run until 27 February 2015.