16 February 2024

This article was originally published in the Western Mail

Since I rejoined Swansea University in 2019, the Welsh university sector has experienced significant turbulence and change. From the long-lasting impact of the pandemic to the large-scale regulatory and funding reform currently underway; the past five years has been characterised by a need to prepare, adapt and respond.

Throughout this time, there has been considerable public debate about what – and who – universities are for.

As I take on the role of Chair of Universities Wales at the start of a new year, this feels an appropriate time to take stock, and reflect upon this fundamental question and the environment in which we currently find ourselves.

Often, the discourse about universities focuses on the problems ahead of us. At the forefront of many minds will be the financial pressures facing our higher education sector. As my predecessor set out in response to the Welsh Government 2024-25 budget, the financial environment in which we are operating is one of the most challenging in recent memory.

As well as the loss of European Structural Funds – which played a pivotal role in supporting research, innovation, and skills capacity in Wales – rapid inflation has accelerated the erosion of the real terms value of the funding, grants and fees received by universities. Currently, the income for neither research nor domestic undergraduate teaching covers the costs of delivery.

At times like this, with our sector facing a multitude of pressures, it can be difficult to remain optimistic, to seek out new opportunities and to articulate a positive vision for the future. Our sense of purpose and our core mission become ever more important in these challenging circumstances.

As a society, we are entering a period of rapid workplace change, shifting global economies and a potential restructuring of our occupational landscape. While assessments as to the extent of change and the risk to jobs may vary, there is an emerging consensus that high-level transferrable skills will be more important than ever.

Yet Wales has a population that is, on the whole, less well-qualified than that of the UK. This is compounded by a widening participation gap between Wales and the rest of the UK, with fewer Welsh 18-year-olds choosing to enter higher education.

The establishment of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, bringing together the post-16 education sectors in a way that is unique in the UK, affords Wales a real opportunity to address this issue. At a time when it appears that fewer young people are electing to remain in post-16 education, the Commission has an opportunity to understand where our young people are going and why they are not choosing to stay in education and upskill.

Looking ahead, political change also looms on the horizon. With the Welsh Labour leadership election currently underway, we will soon have a new First Minister of Wales and, in the UK, the Prime Minister has confirmed there will be a general election in 2024. The outcome of both processes will have ramifications for our sector here in Wales.

While education is a devolved issue, there are direct implications for Welsh universities of the policy decisions made by UK Government. We have areas of shared infrastructure, such that decisions on spending or approach by UK Government will necessitate a response from Welsh Government; a change in the level of student support available is a clear example.

Despite the challenges and uncertainty ahead of us, we must also embrace the unique opportunities afforded our sector. Our universities are well-placed to support many of the foundational elements of our society in Wales; whether finding solutions for the health service, supporting teachers and schools, or developing new ways to achieve net zero. We are uniquely adept at cross-sectoral collaboration, partnering with local authorities and the public and private sectors to deliver change at scale for our regions, through our participation in initiatives such as City Deals, or the Freeports and Investment Zones of the future. And in Wales, we benefit from collaboration by design; the Wales Innovation Network – an initiative involving every higher education institution in Wales – enables us to combine effort and resource to drive R&D in our nation, in support of Welsh Government’s ambitious innovation strategy.

So, how do we – as universities – best articulate our purpose when our work is so broad and diverse? From teaching that can open up new educational horizons, to the research and innovation that has a tangible impact on health, energy, climate. From delivering 250,000 days of professional development to employers every year, to being large employers in our own right.

The question perhaps becomes easier to answer when we look at the places and people around us and the impact that universities have had on lives and livelihoods, either directly or indirectly. Universities in Wales are proud to share a strong sense of civic mission, rooted in the needs of our regions and our nation, and seek to support our communities – both local and global – in the development of a more prosperous, resilient and equal society for us all.

This year, Universities Wales will be launching a campaign to showcase the stories of individuals who have experienced the transformative impact of higher education first-hand. From Swansea University, we are proud to share the story of Caitlin, a nurse who is profoundly deaf. Through her time with our university, she has completed a degree in nursing, a Master’s in education for healthcare professionals, and has been awarded a Research Excellence Scholarship. Caitlin herself has said that university changed the trajectory of her life.

Caitlin’s story is both unique and yet typical of so many other stories of those whose lives are different, in ways both big and small, as a result of universities.

There is no singular definition of what a university is or should be; we are as diverse as we are similar. But what we do for people and places, and the responsibility that creates, is a shared point of connection. As we move into the ever more uncertain future, and the challenges it may bring, it is that fact that we will hold steady in our minds.