The Society submitted comments to the Welsh government’s consultation on support for postgraduate study and part-time (undergraduate) computer science degrees.

The Learned Society of Wales has argued for some time, that achieving the levels of postgraduate participation necessary to reap the benefits of enhanced high-level skills will require effectively addressing the wider problem of the funding of universities in Wales, which currently falls some way below the rest of the UK. As such the long term solution offered by Diamond will be critical to the sustainability of this current policy given that the capacity of the universities in Wales to deliver the postgraduate programmes necessary to produce them remains highly precarious.

Given the widespread concern that investment in postgraduate provision in Wales has fallen behind the rest of the UK and threatens to damage the sector and also impact on economic performance, this interim policy is welcomed by the LSW as it brings Wales in line with the rest of the UK.

[…] The support package provides for parity with England for taught postgraduate courses and research and is therefore welcomed. Consideration should also be given to introducing student loans of up to £25,000 to support those pursuing PGR courses, in line with the proposals set out for postgraduates domiciled in England.