Cardiff Metropolitan University

                                             

   Cardiff  Metropolitan  University

Cardiff Metropolitan University Welsh: , formerly University of Wales Institute, Cardiff U W I C, is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from two campuses:


d a ff on Western Avenue and Cy n c o ed campus to the north-east of the city.
The university has over 12,000 students. The university offers degree courses in a variety of disciplines. Study is available at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, full-time and part-time, and research


In December 2011 the newly established Cardiff Metropolitan University rejected plans for the future structure of Wales’ universities which proposed merging it with the universities of and Newport to form the UK’s largest higher education institution.



opportunities are offered. Cardiff Metropolitan University has a number of research and enterprise , including the Food Industry , the Welsh for Tourism Research, and the National for Product Design and Development


On 4 July 2011, pulled out of merger talks with both Swansea Metropolitan University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, for a new University of Wales citing the fact that it was ‘dissatisfied with a lack of attention to good governance, due process and administration in the University of


In December 2011 the newly established Cardiff Metropolitan University rejected plans for the future structure of Wales’ universities which proposed merging it with the universities of and Newport to form the UK’s largest higher education institution.


was despite the fact that its own Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Robert Brown, was also one of the most senior figures in the University of Wales, serving as a member of the University of Wales Council.


Pressure on Cardiff Met to merge continued to mount throughout 2011 and 2012, however, in line with Leighton Andrews' controversial Higher Education agenda. This included a plan to create a new super-university of 45,000 students in the Welsh Valleys, involving the University of , the University of Wales, Newport, and Cardiff Metropolitan.

In response to their efforts, Leighton Andrews a strong supporter of the mergers on any terms threatened to forcibly dissolve Cardiff Metropolitan and hand its assets over to the University formed by and Newport's merger.

Newport had already agreed to merger plans put forward by , although it was described as a 'bilateral arrangement' with neither institution technically taking precedence. This merger plan left open the possibility of a third university becoming involved, which was as a reference to Cardiff  position.


Cardiff Metropolitan continued to oppose a merger with its , citing the lack of a business case, concerns that the new institution which would be the largest campus university in simply be too big to manage properly, and the 'predatory' attitude of , which has led to concerns they were intent on taking over rather than merging with Newport and Cardiff Met.


 As of October 2012, more time had been granted to consider a three-way merger, but Cardiff Metropolitan still demanded more evidence before committing to further talks.

 that basis that the Minister took the decision to cancel the consultation that was previously in operation.

On 6 November 2012, the threat of dissolution was removed when the Education Minister made a statement to the that he had taken the decision to cancel the previous consultation on the proposed  because of a request from the chairs of the University of and the University of Wales, Newport. It was on

 Cardiff Metropolitan has described the existing plans as high cost and high risk, and have threatened to refer the matter to spending watchdogs, including the Auditor General. However, Cardiff Metropolitan stressed that it retained an 'open mind' on the subject of a merger, and has ruled out moving to the private sector.

Responding to the statement Angela Burns AM, shadow minister for education, said: "This is a massive climb-down for the Education Minister, but a win for diplomacy over belligerence and aggression

                                                                          
On 6 November 2012, the threat of dissolution was removed when the Education Minister made a statement to the that he had taken the decision to cancel the previous consultation on the proposed  because of a request from the chairs of the University of and the University of Wales, Newport. It was on

 that basis that the Minister took the decision to cancel the consultation that was previously in operation.