WISERD Highlighted As ‘Major Resource’ In Diamond Review

The Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance Arrangements in Wales led by Professor Prof Sir Ian Diamond was published this week (27 September). The review, commissioned in 2014, focuses on widening access; supporting the skill needs of Wales; strengthening part-time and postgraduate provision in Wales; and long-term financial sustainability. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the review, quality research funding and knowledge transfer were also assessed. The review comments on the contribution the Wales Institute of Social & Economic, Data & Methods (WISERD) makes in this area and states: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘…it is clear that WISERD has developed into a major resource for providing knowledge transfer across a wide range of the social sciences.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The review goes further to recommend: ‘The Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Development (WISERD) to receive core funding from the Welsh Government to impact on social policy, on a five year basis, against an expectation of the majority of its funding coming from projects.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

WISERD was established in 2008 to draw together and build upon the existing expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods and methodologies at the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, South Wales and Swansea. WISERD undertakes research and capacity building activities that facilitate the development of research infrastructure across the economic and social sciences in Wales and beyond. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

WISERD Director, Professor Ian Rees Jones comments: ‘This is a significant endorsement from the Diamond Review and I am delighted that WISERD has been recognised for the breadth, excellence and policy relevance of its research programmes.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Sir Ian Diamond comments in the review: ‘We are delighted to propose this package of recommendations for the future funding of higher education to the Welsh Government. It is a package that comprises interlocking elements and should be seen in its entirety; it therefore requires implementation as a whole. It is shaped by our core values that the education, research and knowledge exchange delivered by higher education can transform Wales and provide enormous opportunities for all those who have the ability to benefit from it.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​