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The future of Glyndwr University is being reconsidered by the Welsh government, as the institution posts another multimillion-pound loss.
探花视频 has learned that ministers have asked Sir Adrian Webb, who led a review that considered Glyndwr鈥檚 future which was published in 2013, to reconvene with members of his review group to consider how his recommendations 鈥渕ight be taken forward鈥.
Sir Adrian has been told to look at 鈥減rogress to date with the original recommendations and to consider options as put forward by institutions for the future development of higher education in this part of Wales鈥, a government spokesman said.
The discussions are likely to be given added urgency by Glyndwr鈥檚 continuing financial difficulties, which were underlined by the publication this month 鈥 long after most other UK higher education institutions 鈥 of the university鈥檚 accounts for 2013-14. These confirm a deficit of about 拢4 million for 2013-14, similar to 2012-13.
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While most of the 2013-14 loss was made up of one-off costs, these came in a year when Glyndwr received 拢10.8 million in tuition fees from full-time international students, the majority of whom were enrolled at the university鈥檚 London campus.
It is unclear whether Glyndwr will be able to rely on such revenue in future, since it was ordered in November to close this site amid allegations that some students鈥 language qualifications were invalid.
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The university said the process of relocating to a new campus in the capital was 鈥渦nder way鈥 but, at present, its sponsorship licence allows it to recruit about 100 international students to its Wrexham site only.
Glyndwr received a cash advance from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales in March this year in order to 鈥渕eet its peak forecast funding requirements鈥, the accounts reveal. This has now been repaid.
Graham Upton, the interim vice-chancellor, told THE he was working to 鈥減ut the university back on a firm footing鈥.
鈥淲e are disappointed to announce a deficit鈥ut anticipated these results and are now building for the future and implementing a strategy that will bring about financial stability,鈥 Professor Upton said.
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The 2013-14 accounts reveal that, although Glyndwr made an 拢894,000 surplus on its normal operations, this was wiped out by the 拢1.4 million cost of a voluntary severance scheme.
In addition, Glyndwr wrote off the 拢1.1 million value of its business in London owing to the winding down of its operations there, and spent 拢1.3 million on legal costs, some of which were associated with claims by students affected by the suspension of the university鈥檚 sponsorship licence.
The rest of the deficit was largely made up of a 拢1.2 million loss at a subsidiary, OpTIC Glyndwr, up from 拢900,000 the year before.
Penny Anderson, the president of Glyndwr University Students鈥 Guild, credited Professor Upton with bringing 鈥渟ome stability and direction鈥 to the institution since he was appointed in January, but warned that the reliance on international student income had to end.
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鈥淚t is clear there remain serious financial problems facing the university and that a sustainable, stable basis needs to be in place for students to have full confidence in the institution鈥檚 future,鈥 she said.
Sir Adrian鈥檚 original review recommended the formation of a federation between Glyndwr and Coleg Cambria, a nearby further education college, and also suggested that a federation with Bangor University be considered.
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Since the Bangor link-up has gained little traction, the formation of a partnership with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has also been floated, THE understands.
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