
Yesterday Bangor University announced that it will be cutting 78 jobs, in a bid to save £5.3 million. This follows the initial announcement in February of the University was looking at cutting 200 jobs, to produce savings of £15 million.
Unfortunately, this is not a unique position for universities in Wales to be in. Currently universities are facing significant financial challenges that have only been exacerbated by disastrous policies such as the UK Labour Government’s changes to National Insurance.
Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has called for a complete review of how universities are funded, following her deep concerns of the current state of higher education in Wales.
Commenting on staffing cuts at Bangor University, Janet said:
“This situation is not unique to Bangor University, with many others being forced into a similar positions.
“In January, the Welsh Government responded to calls for more funding by allocating a further £20m to the sector, but that barely covers the additional cost caused by National Insurance increases.
“There is a complete failure by the Welsh Government to get to the root cause of the terrible financial state of our universities. To do that they need a full university funding review.
“As it stands Welsh universities are under pressure for several reasons including course fees not covering the actual costs, national insurance changes, not enough research funding secured, large estates and other factors.
“There is no easy fix, so we need to call for an entire university funding review where the Welsh Government cooperates with universities and students”.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Ddoe, cyhoeddodd Prifysgol Bangor y bydd yn cael gwared ar 78 o swyddi, mewn ymgais i arbed £5.3 miliwn. Mae hyn yn dilyn cyhoeddiad cychwynnol ym mis Chwefror bod y Brifysgol yn ystyried torri 200 o swyddi, er mwyn creu arbedion o £15 miliwn.
Yn anffodus, nid yw hon yn sefyllfa unigryw i brifysgolion yng Nghymru. Ar hyn o bryd mae prifysgolion yn wynebu heriau ariannol sylweddol sydd wedi cael eu gwaethygu gan bolisïau trychinebus fel newidiadau Llywodraeth Lafur y DU i Yswiriant Gwladol.
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi galw am adolygiad cyflawn o’r ffordd y mae prifysgolion yn cael eu hariannu ar sail ei phryder mawr am sefyllfa bresennol addysg uwch yng Nghymru.
Wrth gyfeirio at y toriadau staffio ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, dywedodd Janet:
“Dydy’r sefyllfa hon ddim yn unigryw i Brifysgol Bangor, ac mae llawer o sefydliadau eraill wedi cael eu gwthio i sefyllfa debyg.
“Ym mis Ionawr, ymatebodd Llywodraeth Cymru i alwadau am fwy o gyllid trwy ddyrannu £20m arall i’r sector, ond prin y mae hynny’n talu’r costau ychwanegol yn sgil y cynnydd mewn Yswiriant Gwladol.
“Mae yna fethiant llwyr gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i wraidd cyflwr ariannol ofnadwy ein prifysgolion. I wneud hynny, mae angen adolygiad llawn o gyllid prifysgolion.
“Fel y mae hi, mae prifysgolion Cymru dan bwysau am sawl rheswm gan gynnwys methiant ffioedd cyrsiau i dalu’r costau gwirioneddol, newidiadau yn yr yswiriant gwladol, dim digon o arian ymchwil wedi’i sicrhau, ystadau mawr a ffactorau eraill.
“Does dim ateb hawdd, felly mae angen i ni alw am adolygiad llawn o gyllid prifysgolion lle mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithio â phrifysgolion a myfyrwyr”.
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS