Ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, The Open University in Wales calls on the next Welsh Government to prioritise flexible higher education as a driver for a stronger economy, thriving communities, and secure futures.
In a world that’s constantly changing – economically, technologically, and socially – our education system can’t afford to stand still.
If we want Wales to adapt, compete, and thrive, we need a model that works, not just for school leavers, but for adults at every stage of life. We need a system that supports people to learn at 28, 48, and 68, just as much as at 18.
That’s where lifelong learning comes in. And flexible higher education has to be at the heart of it.
At The Open University in Wales, demand is growing for short, flexible, career-relevant learning from people at all life stages. These learners balance study with other commitments, contributing to their communities, supporting families, and filling essential roles in public services.
But the current system is not making it easy.
If we want Wales to adapt, compete, and thrive, we need a model that works, not just for school leavers, but for adults at every stage of life.
The funding system that we, as universities, are subject to was designed for a different era. The part-time fee loan cap has failed to keep pace with inflation, course costs are rising, and institutions offering flexible provision face growing pressure.
The result is: fewer choices and fewer options for learners, particularly those on lower incomes, in insecure work, or with caring responsibilities, who have all the ambition and ability, but who lack access to the very kind of education that could help them move forward.
That is a problem for them. But it is also a problem for Wales.
Today, The Open University in Wales is publishing our priorities for the next Welsh Government.
Ahead of the May 2026 Senedd election, we are calling on whoever forms the next Welsh Government to commit to a package of actions that would put us on a future footing that works for students, providers, the economy, and our communities.
Syniadau uchelgeisiol, awdurdodol a mentrus.
Ymunwch â ni i gyfrannu at wneud Cymru gwell.
The first set of priorities is about securing a sustainable future for part-time and flexible learning. That means protecting fair maintenance support for students, investing properly in part-time provision, taking a more strategic approach to grant funding, and raising the part-time fee loan cap so that universities can meet the true cost of delivering high-quality flexible study. Without these changes, opportunities will shrink and too many people will be priced out of learning.
The second set of priorities focuses on making flexible higher education central to Wales’ economic and social future. We are calling on the next government to embed flexible and modular higher study into national skills programmes, expand access to higher-level and innovative skills, open up new flexible routes into vital public service careers, and recognise lifelong learning as a national asset that strengthens communities as well as the economy.
This cannot just be about qualifications. It must also be about the infrastructure Wales needs to meet the challenges of the future, as well as the realities of the present.
Building on these foundations, we can create a learning culture that includes everyone, strengthens the economy, and supports public services.
The labour market is changing fast, with new jobs requiring new skills. Public services, especially health, social care, and education, are under strain, while an ageing population increases demand and calls for flexible ways to remain economically active. Across all sectors, digital confidence and adaptability are now essential.
We cannot solve these problems with one-off initiatives. What is needed is a lifelong learning system that people can return to when they need to and which delivers meaningful, recognised outcomes.
Wales already has a strong foundation. We have providers with long-standing experience in adult learning. The OU is one example, and we’re proud of the role we play in our tertiary education landscape.
We have digital infrastructure that can support study at scale. We have the ability to offer learning in both of our national languages. And we have a population eager to learn.
Building on these foundations, we can create a learning culture that includes everyone, strengthens the economy, and supports public services.
Gofod i drafod, dadlau, ac ymchwilio.
Cefnogwch brif felin drafod annibynnol Cymru.
This is not about replacing traditional education. Rather, it is about recognising that in today’s economy, one qualification at the age of 21 cannot possibly be enough to last a lifetime. People need access to learning throughout their working lives, and beyond.
By making flexible higher education part of our national strategy, the next Welsh Government can help Wales become a country where learning is normal at every stage of life, and where opportunity does not end at the classroom door.
We already know what works. Now it is time to give it the support and the resources it needs to be available to everyone.
Because, as the proverb goes, a nation’s strength is in its learning.
By backing flexible, lifelong learning for everyone, the next Welsh Government can turn the strength promised in the proverb into reality for everyone in Wales.
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