STAFF on an art and design course earmarked for closure at the University of South Wales (USW) held a meeting with the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams last week.

USW announced last September that its Caerleon campus was to close, with teaching to finish at the site in summer 2016.

Staff on the art and design course were informed not to recruit students for next year and their jobs are to go this summer, following the course’s conclusion on June 12.

Lord Williams, who has been Chancellor of the university since 2014, invited course leader Charles Penwarden and fine art lecturer Edward Jeavons to his office at Cambridge University after they wrote to him to inform him of their plight.

Mr Jeavons said: “We had a very productive meeting and outlined our concerns about the closure, including the way in which the university is losing its connection to the community of Newport and depriving many local people of a vital opportunity.

“It was quite informal and we had a cup of tea in the kitchen. He listened to us and seemed concerned.

“We have continuously campaigned to save our course as we are passionate about the way in which it changes people’s lives, which we have seen time and time again. The university has a responsibility to the community of Newport.

“We hugely appreciate that such a busy person agreed to meet with us and it speaks volumes for the type of person Rowan Williams is.”

Despite hopes that a recent meeting with Vice-Chancellor Julie Lydon would lead to a reversal of this decision, four members of staff on the foundation course have received redundancy notices.

Future students now face travelling to Crosskeys for the nearest alternative course.

A spokesman for USW previously said: “As part of our strategic portfolio review the university has decided to focus the university’s provision at Level 4 (Higher Education courses).

“The same course is also delivered locally by Coleg Gwent and indirectly the university’s withdrawal from this subject area will help secure the viability of foundation art and design in the region.

“This takes nothing away from the passion and dedication with which staff have delivered this course. We accept that this is disappointing news for them, but we will work with them to try and find an acceptable outcome at this difficult time.”