Consultation - Proposals to Refocus Higher Education Student
Finance (Wales)
Date published: 8 December
2008
Response due: 16 February 2009
Semta submission: 16 February 2009
Summary
The Welsh Assembly Government is consulting on proposals to
remodel the student finance system in Wales for full-time
undergraduate students. It is looking at:
- remodelling the student finance system
- widening participation
- tackling student debt
- investing in the higher education sector
Semta provided a response drawing on its national representation
in Wales and its expertise in higher education across the UK.
Next steps
The Welsh Assembly Government has announced that the grant which
off-sets the cost of student top-up fees in Wales will be phased
out from September 2010. £44m will be redirected towards
increasing the assembly learning grant, a means-tested grant to
help students with their living costs. While no statement has
yet been made on the 'priority subjects' which may attract
additional student finance, HEFCW has increased its core funding
for research by transferring £6.1m from other funds. This
will support sustainable excellence in research, not least in
STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine)
subjects - support for these subjects was a key recommendation of
Semta's submission.
Documents and Links
Semta
submission
The consultation
document
Semta represents the views of our employers across government
and the media. If you are an employer in the science,
engineering, or manufacturing technology sectors, we welcome your
views at policy@semta.org.uk
23 March 2009