Distance learning places at new Welsh uni

14:20 26th June 2009

A new campus university is set to be created in the valleys of south Wales.

The Times Higher Education supplement said funding for the campus has been announced by the Welsh education minister.

Up to 80 distance-learning places will be made available at the new University of the Heads of the Valleys.

It will be run jointly by the University of Wales in Newport and the University of Glamorgan.

Welsh education minister, Jane Hutt, announced the plans for the new university following a review on higher education in Wales.

The review found that the economic future of the principality could be at risk if more money was not given to higher education.

Currently, the rest of Britain receives more money for education than Wales.

The study said: "Closing the gap may take a number of years and is particularly challenging in light of the current economic climate.

"However, on this hangs nothing less than the future reputation and prosperity of Wales."

At the beginning of June Western Mail reported Glyndr University in Wrexham had installed a new flight simulator for training pilots and aircraft engineers.