BBC Wales News Education & Family Correspondent
Getty ImagesHead of the regulator of the new University of Wales said a well-known announcement about the university’s layoffs could impact the industry’s reputation.
MEDR CEO Simon Pirotte, who launched last year to oversee education 16 years later, said there is a lot to be proud of, but the focus is on “challenges and problems” at the moment.
Earlier this year, Cardiff University announced plans to cut 400 academic jobs, and other Welsh institutions said they would seek layoffs to balance books.
Mr. Pilot said despite the “extremely challenging” situation, he “has no concern that the university will fall in the near future”.
Mr. Pirotte published his first strategic plan eight months before MEDR was founded in August 2024.
Its budget is £960 million and it is responsible for funding and regulating universities, further education and training and the sixth place in the school.
The Welsh government mission Medr, Research University of Cardiff said it plans to cut the entire department including nursing, modern languages and music, which disciplines are offered by eight universities in Wales.
Mr Pilot said it may be possible that the university will get more money to teach some dangers that may disappear in Wales.
He said MEDR has no ability to tell universities that “you can’t delete topic X or you have to do topic y”, but it can advise governments where topi
He said this could raise questions about “the country we want.”
“We are comfortable thinking that there may not be certain regulations in Wales and that Welsh learners or other learners want to visit a certain area outside Wales?” he said.
“Or, we think these things are of the importance of our strategic or cultural in Wales, in this case, in terms of inspiring that regulation and ensuring it remains in the future?”
Mr Pirotte said further and Higher Education Minister Vikki Howells also asked MEDR to investigate the impact of competition law on universities – “We are interested in collaborating and working together, but obviously need to be done in the spirit of competition law.”
Asked if he was concerned about the recent announcement of university layoffs that damaged the reputation of higher education in Wales, he said: “I worry because I think a lot of the discussion at the moment revolves around challenges and issues.
“We can be very proud of this in Wales and even 16 years ago.”
The university said they were facing a significant deficit, and Mr Pirotte admitted the situation was “really very challenging”.
He said universities are taking “change actions to ensure they are sustainable in the long term”.
The consulting process on Cardiff University’s program will end on May 6, while Bangor University is consulting its employees about cutting 200 jobs.
The University of South Wales said 90 academic work could be carried out after a previous plan to cut 160 professional service positions.
It says some topics in areas including fashion, marketing, film and television, and business may end.
Other universities have also announced plans to save under plans to increase costs and lower incomes for international student fees.