University accused of dumbing down

The angry students gathered outside the University of Wales, Newport, yesterday as managers met to discuss their grievances.

Student leader Jonathan Williams from Garndiffaith, said the students were considering taking their complaint to the University Ombudsman. "The scrapping of the course has been preceded by a cut in tuition hours despite the fact that we have paid our tuition fees," he said.

"If this was a socialist utopia in which everyone was entitled to a free education it would be fair enough. But the university is run as a business and we expect value for money.

"I've taken the matter up with Paul Murphy my MP and I believe there are sufficient legal grounds to take the university to the Ombudsman. It seems to me that serious academic study is not wanted here.

"The university only seems interested in the dumbed-down courses that will allow the government to reach its target of getting 50 percent of young people into higher education. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered degrees in pole-dancing."

Sarah Dronfield, 32, from Cwmbran and in her second year reading archaeology and environmental management said: "The archaeology course will be ending in 2007. I feel insecure because I don't know how the cuts will affect my degree. We have been treated very poorly. There has been no consultation whatsoever."

Giuliano Phillips, 42, from Blaenavon, who is studying archaeology part-time said he feared being stranded.

"Is another university going to take me on so that I can finish my course? I haven't been told anything," he said.

Helen Beddow, head of marketing services said the university's courses were "routinely reviewed and fine-tuned".

"These changes do not affect the quality of the programme or of the degree awarded.

"It is never an easy decision to withdraw courses but we have to offer students courses they wish to study and which meet employer demand."