Arfon Member of the Senedd Siân Gwenllian has urged the Welsh Government to take urgent action to protect staff welfare and job security at Bangor University, following growing concerns about the impact of cuts across the higher education sector.
Speaking in the Senedd this week, Siân pressed ministers to confirm that Welsh Government funding is being used to safeguard jobs at Bangor University.
“Can you confirm that Bangor University has received £1.4 million in funding to mitigate the need for a decrease in the workforce,” asked Siân Gwenllian, “and are you confident that this funding is being used to mitigate the need to cut the number of staff?”
She continued: “There is a great deal of concern that some staff members are facing compulsory redundancy, whilst others have exited voluntarily because they didn’t feel that they had any other choice. As you’ll know, and as I’ve mentioned several times, Bangor University is a key part of the economy of the area that I represent, and these current cuts will have an impact not just on the staff and their families, but on the economy as a whole.”
In response, Education Minister Lynne Neagle MS acknowledged the challenges facing Bangor University and highlighted the wider financial pressures across the higher education sector. However, the Minister did not specifically address Siân Gwenllian’s question about whether the £1.4 million allocated to Bangor University was being used to prevent job losses.
Recently Siân Gwenllian, met with representatives from the University and College Union (UCU) to discuss the deepening funding crisis across Welsh universities. UCU Cymru warned that thousands of jobs have already been lost through voluntary severance schemes, with further cuts expected unless urgent action is taken. Bangor UCU branch representative Dr Vivek Thuppil attended the meeting, which formed part of a campaign to secure long-term investment and protect the future of higher education in Wales.
Following the exchange, Siân Gwenllian reiterated her commitment to stand up for staff and students at Bangor University: “Bangor University is at the heart of the economy and community of Arfon and north-west Wales. It is vital that the Welsh Government and the University do everything possible to protect jobs and ensure that staff are supported through this challenging time.”
Photo: Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian MS and Cefin Campbell MS meet with representatives from UCU Cymru at the Senedd to discuss the growing funding crisis and threat of job losses in Welsh universities.
