GWENT’S university could soon be offering degrees in extreme sports and other new subjects to help address cuts to student numbers under proposals outlined to the Argus.

Acting vice-chancellor Professor Stephen Hagen of the University of Wales, Newport said the university is looking at developing a joint venture with Coleg Gwent at its campus in Usk.

The venture could see the college offering two-year foundation degrees set by the university in land-based studies, animal husbandry, veterinary nursing and extreme sport.

The university would offer a follow-on degree to students who complete the courses. If it wins support from the Welsh higher education funding body, the scheme could begin in October.

Earlier this year it emerged the university was faced with taking 300 fewer students following cuts from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales [HEFCW].

The acting vice-chancellor said the first step he was taking to address losses visited upon the university was by creating new programmes.

He said extreme sports degrees would be a combination of tourism management with sport.

“The kind of sports you are offering are going to be attracting international students and people from all around the world who would come to this part of Wales to undertake various aspects of extreme sport,” he said.

“We are talking about creating a centre in Usk where Coleg Gwent and ourselves will develop a joint venture where we will offer these programmes from foundation degree right the way through to final year honours,”

he said.

He said that outgoing vicechancellor Dr Peter Noyes had told him they had “lost the battle”

on getting the lost 300 places back.

“The only way we’re going to get them back is to do something brand new,” he said.

Prof Hagen said he has signed a letter to HEFCW asking for support for the programmes, which he said are hoped to start in October although it may have to defer them by a year.

He said if the university is unsuccessful in its request it would start the schemes at a “smaller level”.

● The recruitment process for a new vice-chancellor is yet to be decided by the University’s governing body and no advertisement has yet been published for the role.

Asked if he wanted to be vice chancellor Prof Hagen said he “would be interested in seeing the job description”.

Talks on merger under way

PROFESSOR Hagen said he has opened “a dialogue” with the vice-chancellors of the two universities pegged for a merger with Newport’s university.

Welsh Government education minister Leighton Andrews has expressed support for a merger of the University of Wales, Newport, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of Glamorgan.

He said there was no formal response from either of the institutions to a paper from Newport University setting out a plan for a new entrepreneurial university, although there had been informal positive feedback from the Welsh Government.

“I’m disappointed but ever hopeful because I think we have a great opportunity.

“I believe we have to protect Gwent but I think there are ideas out there, new ways of thinking from other countries that can improve the provision of education in this part of Wales.”

He said he has had meetings with vice-chancellors from both universities in the last couple of weeks.

“Both would like to talk more,” he added.