Tuesday 03-12-2024 - 14:55

The university has responded to our questions - check out their answers below.

What is the timescale for the change; when will the decision be made?

We are in the early stages of considering the best way forward and hope to have a decision by February 2025, which would allow six months to make preparations for a smooth transition for our students by September 2025 and the new academic year. 

What if students no longer wish to study at UWTSD if they can’t study at Lampeter?

As a university we do not wish for any student leave UWTSD. However, if a student were to make such a decision, our guidance would be that they continue their studies to the end of the academic year to gain full credit for that level, this would facilitate transferral. We would then work with them to consider the best alternative provider.  

Will the University allow students to finish their degrees on the Lampeter campus?

If the decision is made to move Humanities programmes from Lampeter to Carmarthen there would be no taught provision remaining on the Lampeter Campus, and students would need to complete their programme in Carmarthen.  

How will the University ensure it maintains the student experience on Carmarthen Campus for those who do choose to move to that site? - Some students chose Lampeter because it is quiet and rural; how will this experience be safeguarded?

Moving the programmes to Carmarthen would support the University to provide a better student experience and to have better access to the Students’ Union, its clubs and societies as well as better travel links.    

As with Lampeter, the Carmarthen campus also has accommodation where students could live.  

Carmarthen is situated in a similar rural environment and is a small and quiet town.  Students would be supported in transition to the new location. A key aim would be to ensure a continuity of education for all current Lampeter students and we would work hard to mitigate any concerns over this proposed change of location. 

Is there any evidence that the introduction of Graduate Attribute Modules on Lampeter Campus impacted recruitment in a positive way?

No. The data shows that recruitment to the Humanities has continued to decline in spite of a number of changes designed to increase recruitment including the Graduate Attribute modules and the introduction of block delivery.  

When did the University discover there were issues with recruitment? It is understood numbers have been decreasing for several years; why has action only been taken now?

In its 2022-23 Financial Accounts the University posted a deficit of £11.3m. Prompted by this and the challenges being faced across the higher education sector, the new Vice-Chancellor and the University’s senior leadership team undertook a thorough review of the University’s activities in the first half of 2024.

Despite a range of innovative ideas to develop new courses to attract a larger number of students to our Lampeter campus these have not delivered, and we have seen a steady decline over several years in the number of students being taught on campus. 

If the decision is financial: what is the income needed to sustain Lampeter Campus; and what is the current income?

The University is committed to the Humanities portfolio and, as such, the proposal seeks to ensure its sustainability. 

It is projected that c.1250 full-time on-campus students would be needed to sustain a delivery on the scale of the Lampeter campus. 

In November the University will launch a student partnership project regarding the curriculum review; what programmes have been considered to move to Lampeter? Could Carmarthen Programmes not move to Lampeter? 

The aims of the curriculum review are to:  

• Ensure our academic offering is effective, appropriate and fit for purpose, and serves our students 
• Maintain our financial security 
• Enable a vibrant, inclusive and thriving academic community for our staff and students on our campuses 

We have noted (above) the financial, estate and recruitment challenges relating to the Lampeter campus; the proposed response is the transfer of the Humanities to be a key part of the Carmarthen campus. 

How much investment has the University put into campuses in comparison to Lampeter in the last 5 years? Or what have investments into all campuses looked like?  

This request should be dealt with under the University’s Freedom of Information procedures. 

The University will generate income from the sale of one of the Rugby pitches. Removing a resource from students for income: Could this funding be utilised to keep Lampeter going?  

There is no guarantee that there will be a sale of land, however we would consider investing the relatively small amount of capital received back into the Lampeter campus. 

What if a student wishes to remain living on Lampeter campus and commute to Carmarthen?  

If the decision is made to move Humanities programmes from Lampeter to Carmarthen there would be no student accommodation remaining on the  Lampeter Campus.