12 March 2019 
Matt Sisson, Projects and Membership Manager
For those wondering how the implementation of the Diamond and Hazelkorn reviews of the tertiary education sector in Wales is progressing, HEFCW has provided BUFDG with an update:
“The Minister for Education is committed to bringing forward legislation during the current Assembly term to establish the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER), and, subject to legislation, hopes that the Commission will be established around 2023. The reforms aim to ensure a whole-system solution to funding, regulation and performance in tertiary education, training, and research and innovation to better deliver for learners and the economy for many years to come.
Research and innovation are a key part of the remit of the new Commission, as recognised in Professor Graeme Reid’s Review of Government Funded Research and Innovation in Wales. HEFCW has already started to address many of the issues which will be covered by the Commission and its proposed statutory research committee, developing a high-level vision for research and innovation in Wales, and rebranding its Research, Innovation and Engagement Committee as ‘Research Wales’ to set a marker of the comparable responsibility and visibility of policy support and strategy for research and Innovation in Wales compared to England.”
In related news, the Welsh government has announced it will increase its financial support for Welsh postgraduate students from September 19, with the overall support package up to £17,000 over the duration of a course. Full details are on the goverment website.
