New tertiary body launches major consultation on regulatory powers

Medr has launched its first consultation on a new system for regulating tertiary education and training providers.

The consultation sets out its proposals for regulating in a way that is transparent, proportionate and risk-based.

It also seeks views on the regulatory framework – including some conditions of regulation and funding – powers of intervention, and the quality framework.

The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 established the new statutory framework that integrates the regulation of tertiary education provision.

The new system will largely be in effect from 1 August 2026, with some remaining conditions for registered providers in effect from August 2027.

Any provider seeking a place on the register – facilitating access to Medr funding or student loan funding according to the type of provider – would need to demonstrate ongoing compliance with certain conditions, such as ensuring the quality of provision, effective governance and management, and demonstrating their financial sustainability.

Conditions of funding would also apply to wider tertiary sector providers, outlining the expectations relating to them receiving and managing funding they receive from Medr.

Registered providers would also be expected to show continuous improvement and provide consistently high-quality outcomes for learners.

Medr will also have the power to intervene where issues arise and provide advice and guidance that providers must follow.

Simon Pirotte, Chief Executive of Medr, said: “This heralds the start of a new regulatory approach for all tertiary education and training providers in Wales.

“Following our smooth transition into Medr, we are now taking the first steps towards delivering our vision and strengthening our tertiary system.

“The regulatory environment is changing significantly. We are eager to make the ambitions for the tertiary education sector a reality as we build a system that better protects learners, safeguards public funding, and upholds the reputation of the tertiary sector in Wales.

“The input of providers and stakeholders is critical to ensuring a regulatory system which delivers these ambitions  and we welcome and encourage all engagement during this process.”

The consultation launched on 15 May and closes on 18 July.

Ends

Notes

Medr is Wales’s new funder and regulator for tertiary education and research. The Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Act 2022 brought the funding and management of the tertiary education and research sector under one arm’s length body for the first time, establishing Medr in 2024.

Current regulatory approach

Medr currently regulated fee levels at higher education institutions, ensures a framework is in place for assessing the quality of higher education and scrutinises the performance of tertiary education providers.

Medr is developing a new regulatory system for tertiary education that should be largely established by August 2026, and fully established by August 2027.

Medr’s specific duties in relation to regulation relate to:

• monitoring regulated institutions’ compliance with fee and access plans
• assessing the quality of education
• monitoring institutions’ compliance with the Financial Management Code
• providing information and advice to Welsh Ministers.

Medr also monitors other tertiary providers’ compliance with Terms and Conditions of Funding.

Proposed regulatory approach

All tertiary education and training providers that offer higher education provision and operate in Wales may apply to be registered through Medr from 2026.

Medr’s Strategic Plan outlines its vision for the next five years, and includes its foundation aim “To establish Medr as a highly effective organisation and trusted regulator”. To support this aim, its Regulatory Approach and Intervention Powers sets out the guiding principles by which it will carry out its regulatory duties, with the aim of enabling: “atertiary education and research system which is centred around the needs of learners, society and economy with excellence, equality and engagement at its heart.”

Medr is committed to regulating in a manner that is transparent, proportionate, consistent and risk-based, and aligned with its values, combining the strengths of rules-based (compliance) and goal-based (continuous improvement) regulation.

The consultation opens on 15 May and closes on 18 July, and covers:

• Regulatory Approach and Intervention Powers: This outlines how Medr intends to operate a proportionate, risk-based regulatory system, combining rules-based and outcome-focused approaches. Our goal is to protect learners, safeguard public funding, and uphold the reputation of the tertiary sector in Wales. The document details Medr’s intervention powers, clearly defining processes and stages—from informal advice to formal warnings, directions, or deregistration.
• Regulatory Framework: This sets expectations for registered providers regarding quality, governance, financial sustainability and other conditions of registration. Additionally, specific conditions of funding will apply to some providers within the tertiary sector, clearly defining expectations related to the receipt and management of public funds.
• Quality Framework: Central to our regulatory system, this framework emphasises continuous improvement and consistently high-quality outcomes for learners. It outlines provider responsibilities for self-evaluation, learner engagement, external assessments, and professional development.

Responses are invited through Smart Survey More