RAISING tuition fees to £9,535 a year passes the cost of national insurance hikes to students and “won’t touch the sides” of a £100m shortfall, the Senedd heard.

Opposition politicians quizzed Wales’ higher education minister after she announced fees for undergraduates will rise by £285 or 3% to the same level as in England from August 2025.

Vikki Howells, who was appointed in September, confirmed tuition fee loans will also rise to up to £9,535, with student support increasing by 1.6% in the 2025/26 academic year.

Ms Howells, a former teacher at Caerphilly’s St Cenydd Comprehensive, announced an extra £20m for Medr, a public body which was established this year to oversee all post-16 education and research in Wales.

During education questions in the Senedd on December 4, Conservative Tom Giffard asked how much the UK Government’s national insurance increase will cost Welsh universities.

Estimating the cost at about £20m, Ms Howells said: “The announcement I’ve made today to raise the tuition fee cap in Wales to £9,535 is estimated to cover those costs to universities.”

Mr Giffard replied: “What you’ve done minister is offset the cost of a Labour UK policy by increasing tuition fees for students to pay for it….

“Before that announcement about employers’ national insurance, universities estimated that they run a deficit, cumulatively, of about £100m and yet nothing that has happened so far will address that blackhole.”

The shadow education secretary added: “Taking those two policies in combination, it’s a zero-sum game … the thing that students and universities have in common is that they were promised greater support … and only received greater bills.”

He pressed the minister about emergency funding, raising concerns about three years of cuts leaving Welsh universities worse off than counterparts in the UK.

He warned: “This crisis is real, the university funding crisis is very, very real and it’s immediate – so what are you going to do about it?”

Ms Howells said an analysis of higher education fees and funding across the UK found Wales offers the most generous student maintenance support.

She emphasised the need to balance the needs of students and universities, vowing to put the higher education sector on a more sustainable footing.

She told the Senedd: “If the tuition fee cap was not raised in Wales then it would definitely put our universities at a disadvantage.

“The decision that I’ve taken will not affect the amount of money available to students while they study and neither will it result in graduates repaying more each month. Only those who go on to be the higher earning graduates will likely pay back this increased fee.”

Ms Howells stressed that universities are autonomous and pointed out that 90% of their funding comes from sources outside of the Welsh Government.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, warned an extra £20m for Medr could be “swallowed up straight away” and “doesn’t touch the sides” of a £100m shortfall.

Mr Campbell said: “Increasing tuition fees in Wales will undoubtedly burden students with even greater debt, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

He accused the Welsh Government of taking its eye off the ball over the past 25 years, warning of no coherent strategy and a lack of investment.

The former lecturer said £2 out of every £5 the Welsh Government spends on student fees goes to subsidise universities in England, with £500m a year being spent outside Wales.

He told the debating chamber or Siambr: “As a result of today’s announcement, even more Welsh taxpayers’ money will flow across the border.”

Mr Campbell, who represents Mid and West Wales, raised concerns about 40% of students leaving Wales for higher education, compared with 5% in Scotland and 9% in England.

Raising concerns about the so-called brain drain, he warned that taxpayers’ money is being used to export Wales’ best and brightest students beyond the border.

Ms Howells rejected the “reductionist” argument, saying it would be wrong to limit the horizons of students who choose to study elsewhere.

She said: “It is absolutely imperative that we support our young people to study wherever they wish to. We need to empower our young people to make the best decisions they can.”

ALL eight Welsh universities have now cut ties with the fossil fuel industry, following a landmark decision by the University of South Wales (USW). This move cements Wales as a leader in the global push for ethical investment in education.

USW’s announcement to exclude fossil fuel companies from its investment portfolio makes it the final Welsh institution to join the initiative. The university has also pledged to divest from companies involved in border security, detention, surveillance, and migrant deportation, setting a benchmark for ethical practices.

A major milestone
This development is part of a wider trend, with over 75% of UK universities now divesting from fossil fuels, according to student-led environmental justice network People & Planet.

Laura Clayson, Campaign Manager for Climate Justice at People & Planet, praised the decision:
“This news is incredibly significant, particularly for a nation where fossil fuels have played a major role in shaping its history and landscape. It stands as an act of solidarity with frontline communities globally and in Wales, such as those affected by the now-closed Ffos-y-Fran open cast coal mine.”

Student-led change
Students have been at the forefront of this shift, securing 116 victories through the Fossil Free campaign and six in the Divest Borders campaign. These successes underscore the link between climate justice, social justice, and institutional responsibility.

André Dallas, Co-Director of Migrant Justice at People & Planet, applauded Welsh universities’ leadership:
“Students are clear that universities must stand for justice and progress, not only in their prospectuses but in their policies. Wales has turned its back on the fossil fuel industry—an extraordinary achievement.”

Sustainability commitment
Rachel Elias-Lee, Chief Finance Officer at USW, emphasized the university’s commitment to a sustainable future:
“Our Ethical Investment Policy ensures we avoid investments in fossil fuels, arms, tobacco, and unethical industries. We are dedicated to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, supporting renewable energy, and driving a low-carbon, sustainable future for all.”

This move reflects growing societal pressure for institutions to align their investments with principles of sustainability and justice.

A UK-wide shift
The divestment aligns with a broader UK movement, as universities increasingly take responsibility for tackling climate change and social injustice. Navid Sharif, Vice-President Activities at USW Students’ Union, highlighted the significance of the announcement:
“This milestone showcases what can be achieved when institutions listen to their communities. USW is leading the way, and we hope this inspires further progress across Wales and beyond.”

Ethical investment: the future
With campaigns like Fossil Free and Divest Borders achieving success, the focus now shifts to sustaining momentum and encouraging other sectors to adopt similar measures. Welsh universities have shown that ethical investment is both achievable and crucial in addressing global challenges.

TALENTED Pembrokeshire College learners proved once again that they are among some of the best young trainees in the UK bringing home seven medals and two highly commended awards in the WorldSkills UK Finals held in Manchester during November.

A total of 12 Pembrokeshire College learners secured places in the UK Finals after scoring highly in the national qualifiers. They joined over 400 competitors from across the UK competing for medals in over 40 different skills at this prestigious competition.

Their medal haul included a Gold medal for Ross Muller in the Inclusive Skills Horticulture competition, as well as Gold medals for the Inclusive Skills Enterprise team; Ryan Lambert, Denver Picton and Kirsty Jones. Meanwhile Erin Owens secured Silver in Beauty Therapy while Dylan Jenkins and Mason Briskham picked up Bronze in Inclusive Skills Media. Highly Commended awards went to Luke Roberts in Welding and Kaya Mujica in Beauty Therapy.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith commented: “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s magnificent competition. Each of you has showcased the exceptional talent and promise of our future workforce.

“Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth.

“Huge thank you to the judges, mentors, and organisers whose hard work and dedication make these events possible. Your efforts are helping to inspire and empower the next generation to succeed.”

Taking part in skills competitions is an important part of many courses at the College and allows learners to test their skills against the best of the best, learning how to work under pressure and giving them a real point of difference as they progress to employment or further study.

Dr Barry Walters, Principal at Pembrokeshire College commented: “We are incredibly proud of all the learners who made it through to the UK Finals.

“Competing at this level is proven to enhance a young person’s skills as well as helping them to develop key interpersonal and employability skills.

“As a College we are committed to equipping our learners with the skills to proactively contribute to the local, national and global economy and taking part in skills competitions forms a key part of this.”

To find out more about the range of courses available at the College go to the Pembrokeshire College website.