Formal Council Questions and Responses

At its meeting on 1 April 2026, Newport City Council heard a question from Councillor Fouweather about job and course losses at the University of South Wales (USW). Councillor Batrouni, the Leader of the Council, replied that he is in regular contact with the university and hopes to meet its incoming Vice-Chancellor, the university's top executive, after May 2026. The minute records no decision.

1. Question on University of South Wales job and course cuts

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor Fouweather said USW announced about 90 job losses in February 2025, mainly among academic staff and faculty managers, and a small number of course closures. He said the university announced 200 more job losses across its estate on 4 March 2026. He noted that student numbers in Newport fell from over 10,000 in 2010/11 to around 3,000. Councillor Batrouni, the Leader, said he is in regular dialogue with the university and hopes to meet its new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Khan, who takes office in May 2026. He said the whole university sector is under strain. He said comparing student numbers from 2010/11 with 2025/26 does not make sense, because the sector has changed since then, including through the Covid pandemic.

   Based on the minutes

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1. 1

   Question to the Leader : 2026/14 - NCC USW Campus

   Minute

   Councillor Fouweather asked: Last year, in February 2025, the University of South Wales (USW) announced job losses of approximately 90 roles, primarily targeting academic staff and faculty management structures. The university also confirmed it would close a "small number" of courses. This year, on Wednesday 4th March, the (USW) announced another 200 job losses were planned across its estate. After this recent announcement, has the leader of the Council made any contact with the university to ascertain if any jobs or courses will be affected at the Newport City Centre Campus on the riverfront? If yes, what was the result of the conversation? There were once over 10,000 university students studying in Newport in 2010/11. In the space of fifteen years that number has now dropped to around 3,000. Councillor Batrouni responded: I am in regular dialogue with representatives of the University of South Wales (USW). The university has recently appointed a new Vice-Chancellor, who is scheduled to take office in May 2026. I hope to meet Professor Khan to discuss the future plans for USW shortly after. It is worth pointing out that the whole university sector is suffering, a fact which has been widely publicised. I know the Newport Conservatives are stuck in the past, but it is troubling the Newport Conservatives have not recognised the world has completely changed, with world changing events taking place in that time e.g. the Covid pandemic. Comparing student numbers from 2010/11 to 2025/26 does not make any sense. This would be the same as judging a model in place now in 2041, which clearly would be nonsense.

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