Michael German AM stands up for Newport students in fight with University

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th Aug 2006

A former member of staff at one of Wales' biggest universities has slammed the management for its inconsistent treatment of students

He was speaking following news that students on the Environmental Management Programme at the University of Wales, Newport are suing the university after teaching hours were cut. The students claim cuts were made on financial, not academic grounds.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Michael German investigated this matter with former staff member Jeff vans, who said:

"I know that the University deferred announcing the decision to close the Environmental Management programme for financial reasons - so that they were still awarded funding from the National Assembly. However, they still accepted new students onto the programme even though it was earmarked for closure.

"Students have seen teaching hours cut but were told that the quality of their education would not suffer. They had a right to the amount and quality of teaching that they were promised on signing up. On one second year module, teaching was slashed from the promised 48 hours to 14.

"Even worse, it seems these changes were pushed through before full quality processes were undertaken.

"The cuts happened in September 2005, and approval was given at the end of November. ."

Michael German AM, who has been negotiating on behalf of the students affected, said:

"I am deeply concerned that students have worked hard to gain a place on a course, paid the fees and then not received the teaching promised to them.

"I have followed the internal investigation into the students' complaints and I know that they are unhappy with the result. Undoubtedly their education has suffered. Teaching hours have been cut and it seems that they were accepted onto one course, when the management had no intention of it running as promised."

Jeff Evans continued: "The University does not have a clear policy to ensure that the last cohort of students experience the same teaching as other year groups when courses are closed. Students on the Environmental Management course have suffered as a result."

Michael German AM said: "I have met with the affected students and listened to their concerns. I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Vice-Chancellor to see what can be done to improve things for the students and ensure future programme changes are handled with more care.

"Students need to know that they will receive the education they have signed up for and if not, that their complaints will be listened to. I will be calling for the Higher Education Funding Council to look into the matter, as well as an investigation by the Office for the Independent Adjudicator of Higher Education.

"I understand that today's universities are run along business lines in a competitive market. But education and students must always be the first priority."