Swansea University cuts nearly 200 jobs amid financial difficulties

Almost 200 jobs are being cut at Swansea University as a result of "financial challenges" in higher education.

The institution confirmed 189 employees had volunteered for redundancy since a scheme opened in September.

The cuts come as an academic called on the Welsh government to review higher education funding.

Prof Dylan Jones-Evans said there was an over-reliance on recruiting foreign students, who pay higher fees.

He said that was compounding a difficult financial situation for universities.

"There have been changes to the visa system and there are less foreign students coming to Wales," Prof Jones-Evans told Newyddion S4C.

"That has created a big financial hole and some institutions are already cutting courses and staff."

Student visa rules for international students came into force this year, which mean foreign students can no longer bring dependents to the UK, except in special circumstances.

According to Universities UK, there was a 44% drop in international enrolments for postgraduate courses in January this year after a survey of 70 UK universities.

Prof Dylan Jones-Evans is calling on the Welsh government to review the way Welsh higher education is funded.

He said: "If we want a strong higher education sector in Wales that can make a difference to the nation, we need to look again (at) what we want from that sector."

The University of South Wales has also launched a voluntary redundancy scheme to cut costs.

Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University said they were not currently cutting jobs but were facing financial problems and redundancies could yet be on the cards.

Director of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre, Prof Richard Wyn Jones, said universities typically lost money on domestic students.

He said: "That model is obviously unsustainable. The signs have been there for years, but there has been no political will from any political party to do anything about it.

"The crisis has been festering and people have been burying their heads in the sand. A review is certainly needed."

Universities Wales, which represents Welsh institutions, called the fall in demand from foreign students "concerning".

It said: "It is clear that policy changes by UK government last year, alongside increased competition from other countries, have had a significant impact on the UK's attractiveness to international students.

"It is troubling that current policy and rhetoric seems to be undermining the success of the UK government's own international education strategy."

The Home Office said it was focused on striking the right balance between tackling net migration - the numbers coming to and from the country - and attracting the brightest students to the UK.

The Welsh government said it recognised the monetary pressures universities were facing.

A spokesman said: "Ministers have been engaging regularly and constructively with sector leaders on this."