Supplementary evidence from Professor
Teresa Rees CBE, Pro Vice Chancellor, Cardiff University
BARNETT CONSEQUENTIALS
AND DEVOLUTION
There are a number of instances where decisions
have been made in Westminster that apply to England where as far
as I can tell, an appropriate resource has not been made available
on the Barnett formula to Wales. This has had an adverse effect
on research in Wales. For example:
— when the Government in Westminster
decided to address to the issue of Full Economic Costing in Government
department and charity funded research in English universities.
This was not matched in Wales and remains problematic especially
for health charity funded research;
— when the funds raised in English
universities from alumni were matched by Government resources
(following the Thomas report), but the same did not apply in Wales;
and
— when R&D money in the NHS was
earmarked for research but in Wales it remains in Trusts and is
difficult to access.
ON WAG'S
REVIEW OF
HE
The first part of this review, on fees, has
reported and I am in broad agreement with the recommendations.
Indeed, they fall in line with those of the Rees Review.[53]
For the main report (which, ideally, would have been conducted
in advance of the more specific one on fees), I hope that the
focus will look at Wales in its wider context and argue for more
joined up thinking on higher education in the UK. This would include
commenting on the role of Westminster on aspects of HE in Wales
such as the recruitment of international students, innovation
and engagement, links with industry, the research agenda of the
European Commission's Framework Programme and profiling research
of the UK. It would also examine the need for a strategic framework
on higher education and research at the UK level at Ministerial
and senior civil servant levels.
Secondly, I trust the review will pay attention,
as I am sure it will, to the issue of cross border flows—of
students, staff and research funding, drawing in part on the work
of the Select Committee.
53 Rees, T, Bell, D, Bruce, T, Davies, D, Humphreys,
R, Jenson, G, McGinley, D, Reynolds, S, Richards, K, Singh, R,
Smith, E, Williams, F, Woodall, M, and Wynne-Jones, E. (2005)
Fair and Flexible Funding: A Welsh Model to Promote Quality
and Access in Higher Education Final Report of An Independent
Study into the Devolution of the Student Support System and Tuition
Fee Regime in Wales (The Rees Review) Main Report, Cardiff:
Welsh Assembly Government ISBN 0 7504 3657 3 pp 113 plus CD-ROM
of appendices http://www.learning.wales.gov.uk/students/rees-review-e.shtml Back
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