Wales has the potential to become the best place in the UK to be a student, says a major new policy paper co-authored by a student officer at Undeb Aberystwyth (Aberystwyth University Students’ Union).
‘Y Gorau Oll’ (‘The Very Best’), published by the Post-18 Project, was written in response to the new Welsh Government’s pledge to undertake an independent, cross-party review of higher education funding and student support during its first 100 days.
The paper is co-authored by Aberystwyth UMCA President Gwenno Roberts and Jim Dickinson, associate editor of the influential higher education publisher Wonkhe.
Gwenno said: “Our paper aims to be a catalyst for the Welsh Government, Medr, universities and students’ unions to come together to discuss the short-, medium-, and long-term actions we can take to transform student experience in Wales.
“This isn’t about criticising anyone’s existing contribution to our higher education landscape - it’s about recognising the advantages that Wales has as an education provider, and working together to release its full potential.”
The paper outlines eight ambitions for Welsh higher education, covering all aspects of student life. Recommendations range from giving students more power to shape their own learning, to ensuring that their health, social and employment needs are met. The ambitions are accompanied by eight asks - proposed changes such as protecting the existing student maintenance package and introducing a funding floor for students’ unions - to enable the ambitions.
The central argument of the paper is that being a small country with a simple government structure gives Wales a significant advantage.
Gwenno and Jim write: Wales has something England lacks: the ability to join up government. In England, the student experience falls between departments. The Department for Education handles education policy but has no power over health, housing or transport. The Department for Work and Pensions sets welfare rules that treat students punitively. NHS England operates separately from universities. Local authorities make planning decisions without considering student populations.
“The result is fragmentation – nobody owns the problem, so nobody solves it. Wales is different. With 3.1 million people and a single devolved government, coordination is possible in ways that Westminster cannot achieve.”
The authors of the paper say their proposals have the potential to bring wider benefits to Wales.
Gwenno said: “Wales faces two linked challenges that higher education reform could address. The first is attracting students and the second is retaining graduates.
“Wales needs more graduates if it is to address productivity challenges and fill skills gaps. Our paper proposes changes that we believe will reach far beyond the higher education sector and bring positive economic and cultural impacts to Wales.”
Y Gorau Oll can be downloaded in full from the Post-18 Project website.
Notes to Editors:
- About the Authors:
Gwenno Roberts is Aberystwyth UMCA President/Llywydd UMCA for 2026–27, representing Welsh-speaking students and Welsh culture at Aberystwyth University and leading student campaigns across Wales.
Jim Dickinson is Associate Editor at Wonkhe, specialising in university governance, regulation, and the student experience. He was recently appointed as an external trustee at Aberystwyth University Students’ Union.
- About Aber SU & UMCA:
Undeb Myfyrwyr Aberystwyth (Aberystwyth Students’ Union) represents over 8,000 students at Aberystwyth University. UMCA (Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Aberystwyth), established in 1973, is the dedicated Welsh-medium student union representing Welsh-speaking students and promoting Welsh culture and language across campus and wider society.
- About The Post-18 Project:
The Post-18 Project is an initiative within Thesis (alongside Wonkhe, Policy.Partners, and Research Agenda.) established to produce fresh research, policy frameworks, and debate regarding the future of post-18 tertiary education in the UK.
- Context of the paper
The Welsh Government pledged to undertake an independent, cross-party review of higher education funding and student support during its first 100 days. Y Gorau Oll serves as a proactive policy submission on behalf of the student movement.
- The eight ambitions outlined in the paper are:
- Every student will shape their own learning.
- Every student will contribute to Welsh communities.
- Every student will have what they need to thrive.
- Every student will be supported to succeed.
- Every student will be healthy, safe – and help Wales be healthier.
- Every student will be able to learn languages.
- Every student will be a partner in their education.
- Every student will have good work.
The eight asks are:
- Protect Diamond’s universal maintenance architecture.
- Restore the maintenance benchmark and unfreeze the thresholds.
- Redefine “full-time” as 90 credits, with a maintenance floor below it.
- Build credit portability across the tertiary system.
- Strengthen the Learner Engagement Code with a students’ union funding floor.
- Commission the missing evidence.
- Prepare Wales to be first and fastest into Erasmus+.
- Adopt a national student employment strategy.
- Media Inquiries & Interview Requests:
Aberystwyth Students’ Union Communications Team: union@aber.ac.uk