Transparency vital as uni leadership needs reform

> Public trust is our universities' most valuable asset

- DYLAN JONES EVANS

VER the past year, governance within Welsh universities has come under increasing scrutiny as their leaders have struggled to cope with the profound changes facing the sector.

The disappointing response from many - characterised by opaque decision-making, public relations disasters, and questionable financial stewardship - seems symptomatic of deeper failures in accountability.

While higher education remains critical to our economic and cultural future, the systems meant to safeguard it are struggling to keep pace.

As we've all seen in the press over recent weeks, an erosion of transparency lies at the heart of the sector's accountability crisis. Universities are funded through a mix of public grants, subsidised student loans, and charitable status, yet they often operate with the secrecy of private corporations.

Time and again, we've seen limited publication of minutes relating to ongoing crises, with decisions increasingly made behind closed doors, and this lack of visibility is completely unacceptable for institutions that claim to serve the public good.

The situation is worsened by what appears to be a growing culture of fear within some institutions, with evidence of university staff being threatened with disciplinary action or dismissal for criticising senior management. Whistleblowers, union leaders, and academics who question strategic decisions or leadership performance are frequently sidelined. Several cases have emerged in which staff who raised concerns over restructuring or student welfare have reported being marginalised or pressured into silence, particularly when criticism is aired publicly or online.