University Agenda
Leighton Andrews is a strong proponent of merging the universities of Wales to establish larger, more stable institutions. This agenda has proven to be extremely controversial. His campaign opened with a blunt speech to vice-chancellors, whereby he accused them of ignoring the Welsh Assembly Government, and announcing a review into the governance and sustainability of the HE sector. Shortly before the review group was due to meet for the first time, he announced what its conclusions would be by stating that there would be 'fewer vice chancellors' because of mergers among HE institutions. At the time, his statement was met with cautious welcome, particularly from academics. It also led to the merger of two small universities in Swansea and Dyfed, along with the University of Wales, to create one university out of four predecessor institutions, with the option of merging further with local FE colleges to produce a new post-16 educational model.
However, the stresses and strains of the merger process have caused a rising tide of opposition. Particular problems have surrounded UWIC. Initially, this was due to merge with Swansea Metropolitan University, the University of Wales, Trinity St David and the University of Wales to form a new federal university. This fell through after a scandal involving quality control at the University of Wales, during the course of which Andrews forced its closure and UWIC renamed itself Cardiff Metropolitan University and began exercising its won degree awarding powers, announcing it intended to remain independent. Currently, Cardiff Metropolitan is refusing to merge and has threatened legal action in a bid to remain independent. In response to their attitude, Andrews has threatened to forcibly dissolve the institution and transfer its assets to the University of Glamorgan to create his favoured outcome of one giant technical university in the Valleys. So far Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, Glyndwr University and Swansea University look set to remain independent, along with Cardiff University (which previously merged with the University of Wales school of Medicine in a move claimed as a success by HEFCW).
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