Vikki Howells MS Minister for Further and Higher Education

• Tertiary Education and Research strategy, policy and funding
• Medr (the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research)
• Quality of tertiary education and learner experience
• Implementation of the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022
• Post-16 Education Workforce including engagement, pay and conditions, workload and wellbeing
• Student Support arrangements including Education Maintenance Allowance, Welsh Government Learning Grant, Higher Education Student Finance and lead for Student Loan Company
• International learning and strategy, including the International Learning Exchange Programme (Taith) and Global Wales
• Adult Community Learning strategy, policy and funding
• Lifelong Learning
• Prisoner Learning
• Credit and Qualifications Framework
• Increasing and widening post-16 participation

Vikki Howells is the Welsh Labour Senedd Member for Cynon Valley. Born and raised in the constituency, Vikki was educated at St John Baptist Church in Wales High school, Aberdare, before attending the University of Wales, Cardiff, where she gained a bachelor’s degree in International and Welsh History, and a master’s degree in Modern Welsh History. Whilst studying at Cardiff, Vikki received the Charles Morgan award in recognition for her contribution to the field of Welsh History.

Vikki worked as a History teacher at St Cenydd Community School, Caerphilly, from 2000 to 2016, where she also undertook a range of pastoral roles, most recently serving as Assistant Head of Sixth Form. Vikki has also worked as a mentor for trainee teachers and has sat on the admissions panel for the History PGCE course at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Vikki was elected to Chair the Welsh Labour Group of Senedd Members in November 2017 and was Chair of the Senedd Standards of Conduct Committee between 2021 and 2024.

On 11 September 2024, Vikki was appointed as Minister for Further and Higher Education.