Terms of reference

The purpose of this Tertiary Education and Research Ministerial Advisory Group, (MAG) is to engage regularly with representatives from across the Welsh tertiary education sector and for the group to provide strategic advice to the Minister for Further and Higher Education on key policy issues, initiatives, and other matters of importance within the Tertiary Education portfolio. Welsh Government has set out a clear strategic aim to create a collaborative and coherent tertiary system and the group will provide a vehicle to engage on issues affecting the whole system.

The MAG does not have executive powers and will be advisory only.

The MAG will focus on the strategic priorities for tertiary education for 2025 to 2026 and beyond, particularly increasing participation rates across the post-16 education sector and stabilising the current financial challenges facing school sixth forms and further and higher education institutions. Alongside these challenges, the establishment of Medr presents a significant opportunity to create a more collaborative tertiary sector in creating pathways and improving outcomes for all learners. Therefore, the key focus for this group will be:

• Post-16 Participation: exploring strategies to increase access, retention, and progression for learners across diverse pathways, including further education, higher education, and work-based learning. To also include discussion on the impact of pre-16 participation.
• Sustainability of the Tertiary Education System: addressing financial, environmental, and institutional sustainability to ensure long-term resilience and effectiveness.
• Research and Innovation in the Tertiary System: enhancing collaboration between institutions and industries to drive innovation, improve research outputs, and support economic growth.

Across these areas, the group will consider policy development, strategic planning, programme implementation and evaluation, stakeholder engagement and emerging issues and trends within the sector, in Wales, the UK and internationally.

There will also be scope to develop a series of external sub-groups to feed into the Ministerial Advisory Group on the specific areas of focus set out above and issues such as:

• International Education
• Vocational Education and Training

Composition

The MAG will consist of external members from across the tertiary education and related sectors, invited by the Minister for Further and Higher Education. No members or the chairperson are public appointments and members are expected to provide sector expertise and insight rather than represent any one organisation. Membership is anticipated to evolve over the course of the meetings.

A list of members is included at annex A.

Appointment and Tenure

Members will be appointed for the duration of this term of government, with the possibility of renewal, to ensure a broad range of input into the group. The Minister may replace members or fill vacancies as necessary to maintain the group's effectiveness.

Chairperson

The Minister for Further and Higher Education will chair the group. The responsibilities of the chair are set out at paragraph: Roles and Responsibilities - Chairperson.

Members

• Attend and actively participate in meetings.
• Provide informed and constructive advice.
• Review and comment on relevant documents and reports.
• Maintain confidentiality of discussions and materials.
• Declare any conflicts of interest as soon as they arise.

Chairperson

The group will be chaired by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, who will be responsible for convening, leading and facilitating the meetings, setting agendas in consultation with members and ensuring the group’s steer is documented. The Chair will be supported by the group secretariat.

Frequency

The MAG will meet termly, in person or hybrid, with additional meetings convened as required.

Secretariat Support

The Tertiary Education Directorate will provide secretariat support to the MAG, including coordinating meeting logistics, preparing and distributing meeting agendas and materials and recording and distributing minutes and action items.

The terms of reference may be reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and effective. The Minister may amend the terms of reference as needed, in consultation with the MAG.

All members must adhere to confidentiality requirements regarding sensitive information. The MAG will operate transparently, and non-confidential outcomes of meetings and reports may be made publicly available at the Minister’s discretion.

Core Members

• James Owen, Chief Executive, Medr
• Professor Dame Julie Lydon, Chair, Medr 
• David Hagendyk, Chief Executive, Colegau Cymru
• Lisa Thomas, Chair, Colegau Cymru 
• Amanda Wilkinson, Chief Executive, Universities Wales
• Elwen Evans, Chair, Universities Wales
• Sharon Davies, WLGA, Education Executive lead 
• Dr Lowri Brown, ADEW
• Deio Owen, President, NUS Cymru
• Gareth Lloyd, UCU
• Jamie Insole, UCU
• Lynne Hackett, Unison
• Professor Chris Millward, University of Birmingham 
• Professor Roger Whittaker, Chair of Wales Innovation Network 
• Ian Price, Chair of Governors, Gower College
• Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive, Coleg Cymraeg
• David Jones, former Principal and Chief Executive, Coleg Cambria and former Chair Qualifications Wales
• Professor Chris Pearce, Vice Principal Research & Knowledge Exchange, University of Glasgow
• Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research, The University of Manchester

Welsh Government

• Ruth Meadows, Director Tertiary Education Directorate (TED)
• Jas Pal Badyal, Chief Science Adviser for Wales
• Clarie Rowlands, Deputy Director, Strategy and Funding, TED
• Geoff Owen, Head of Tertiary Education Sector Review, TED
• Jo Trott, Deputy Director, Learner Pathways, TED
• David Morris, Head of Strategy and Future Policy, TED
• Liz Lalley, Director, Economic Policy & Strategy
• Jo Salway, Director, Social Partnership, Employability & Fair Work
• Robert Hoyle, Head of Science
• Craig Greenland, Secretariat

Please note other representatives may be invited to attend for specific meetings and agenda items.