Medr (Wales) Explained

Medr
Commission for Tertiary Education and Research
Type:Sponsored body
Preceding1:Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Jurisdiction:Welsh Government
Agency Type:Welsh Government sponsored body

cy|'''Medr'''|term1=skill|term2=ability|italic=no, also known as the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER;), is a tertiary educational and Welsh Government sponsored body, overseeing post-16 education and research in Wales. It was established in August 2024, replacing the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

Background and history

In March 2016, a Welsh Government review proposed that the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) be replaced by a "Tertiary Education Authority",[1] [2] later referred to as a "Tertiary Education and Research Commission for Wales" in 2017, which also backed the scrapping of HEFCW.[3] [4]

The body was legally established, following the enactment of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act, on 8 September 2022. The body would be a Welsh Government sponsored body and would replace the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) when it becomes fully operational in August 2024.[5] [6] [7] [8] The new body would have a much broader role in Welsh education than HEFCW, as HEFCW currently only is responsible for higher education, with CTER gaining additional responsibilities held by the Welsh Government.[9] The body is expected to become the second largest public body in Wales after NHS Wales,[10] have an annual budget of £800 million,[11] and be the first combined higher and further education body in the United Kingdom. The development of the commission, integrating higher and further education oversight, would not lead to the replacement of Estyn, the further education inspector, or the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the higher education inspector.[12] [13] The QAA welcomed the proposals.[14]

The commission would be responsible for strategising, funding and overseeing the further education (colleges and sixth-forms), higher education (universities), adult education and adult community learning, apprenticeships and training sectors of the Welsh educational system. The body forms part of the Welsh Government's strategic vision for post-compulsory (post-16) education and training in Wales.

In December 2022, it was announced the commission's board chair would be Julie Lydon, while its board's deputy chair would be David Sweeney.[15]

In July 2023, Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and Welsh Language, received criticism in his involvement in establishing the commission, in which Miles overrode an agreed selection process for the commission's chief executive, to personally appoint the position himself. Miles stated his decision was a result that the first selection process between November 2022 and February 2023, failed to recommend a candidate for the position. Miles appointed Simon Pirotte, chief executive of Bridgend College.[16]

The organisation began some operations in September 2023. It was originally proposed to be fully operational in April 2024, although in January 2024, its full operation date was delayed to August 2024. Instead, the commission would begin developing plans in April but would only see full transfer of powers from HEFCW in August 2024.[17]

Prior to its operation date of August 2024, it was announced it would be branded as cy|Medr|term1=skill|term2=ability|italic=no|paren=left; also capitalised as MEDR).[18] [19] It began operations on 1 August 2024, while HEFCW was closed.[20]

Role

The commission is to have the role of establishing a:

The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act, which established the body, also set out some strategic duties:

Notes and References

  1. News: 2016-03-10 . New body proposed to shape Welsh universities and colleges . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-03.
  2. News: 10 March 2016 . Major education review finds problems with attracting and retaining talent . .
  3. News: 2017-01-31 . University cash body Hefcw to be scrapped . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-03.
  4. News: 2017-10-25 . FE funding body threat over sixth form involvement . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-11-03.
  5. Web site: 2023-10-31 . Commission for Tertiary Education and Research GOV.WALES . 2024-04-02 . www.gov.wales . en.
  6. Web site: 2023-05-25 . About the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER): Commission for Tertiary Education and Research GOV.WALES . 2023-11-03 . www.gov.wales . en.
  7. Web site: 2021-11-01 . Further education in Wales to be managed by one commission in new government plans . 2023-11-03 . Barry And District News . en.
  8. Web site: NationCymru . 2021-11-01 . Welsh higher education funding body to be dissolved and new ‘national steward’ role created . 2023-11-03 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  9. Web site: The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act: One year on . 2023-11-03 . research.senedd.wales . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Cook . Rhian . 2023-11-01 . The future is flexible, the future is open . 2023-11-03 . Institute of Welsh Affairs . en-US.
  11. Web site: Mansfield . Mark . 2023-07-01 . Minister pulled plug on top job selection process and appointed candidate he favoured . 2023-11-03 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2021-11-12 . Wales' tertiary future . 2023-11-03 . feweek.co.uk . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Cook . Rhian . 2023-11-02 . Shaping the future of vocational education and training . 2023-11-03 . Institute of Welsh Affairs . en-US.
  14. Web site: QAA welcomes proposals for new Wales Higher Education Commission . 2023-11-03 . www.qaa.ac.uk.
  15. Web site: Gregory . Rhys . 2022-12-23 . Appointments to Commission for Tertiary Education and Research . 2023-11-03 . en-US.
  16. Web site: Flay-Petty . Jonathan . 2023-06-09 . Principal to become the first CEO of the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research - Coleg Penybont . 2023-11-03 . Bridgend College . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2024-01-24 . Written Statement: Commission for Tertiary Education and Research – Update (24 January 2024) GOV.WALES . 2024-04-02 . www.gov.wales . en.
  18. Web site: kelseybisshopp . 2024-06-06 . WELSH EDUCATION NEWS – 06/06/2024 . 2024-06-23 . Apollo Teaching . en-GB.
  19. Web site: 13 June 2024 . Written Question - WQ93136 - Cabinet Secretary for Education . 2024-06-23 . Welsh Parliament . en . On 1 August 2024 the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research known as MEDR will become operational..
  20. Web site: Home . 2024-08-11 . Medr . en-GB.