Leighton Andrews, Minister for Educations and Skills
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
On 2 July 2012, I issued a White Paper to seek views on proposals for a Further and Higher Education (Wales) Bill. In a Written Statement of 6 March 2013, I indicated that I had been encouraged by a broad base of support for the proposals and that my officials would undertake further analysis and development of the higher education proposals. That work has been completed and today I am publishing the Welsh Government’s response to the White Paper’s higher education proposals together with a more detailed technical consultation.
The response to the FE and HE White Paper has taken full account of the feedback received from the consultation responses and sets out which proposals are to be progressed in legislation and which are not.
The technical consultation sets out proposals for a revised regulatory framework for higher education in Wales and seeks stakeholders’ views on the implementation of those proposals. My officials will also be engaging with stakeholders during the consultation period. I intend to bring forward provisions relating to higher education reform through legislation later in this Assembly’s term.