Medr/2026/26: Digital revenue funding for further and higher education institutions in 2026/27

Introduction

1. Medr is preparing for a mid-term refresh of the Digital 2030 strategic framework for digital learning and developing our evidence base on digital learning needs and priorities to inform our future approach to digital learning in the tertiary education sector. We are working closely with Jisc to better understand the current position, needs and priorities relating to digital learning in the further and higher education sectors and in apprenticeship provision.

Further education

2. Jisc has already engaged with further education institutions, Colegau Cymru and other key stakeholders to produce findings for Medr on current needs and priorities in further education. We have started to incorporate findings from this piece of work, particularly around the theme of digital infrastructure, into our approach to digital capital funding for further education institutions (Medr/2026/18).

3. The criteria for revenue expenditure set out in this publication also reflects the following themes raised by further education institutions:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Improving data maturity
• Encouraging collaborative approaches

Higher education

4. Further engagement with higher education institutions, Universities Wales and other key stakeholders on current digital learning needs and priorities in higher education is scheduled for AY2026/27.

5. In the meantime, we have continued to incorporate key themes from the higher education sector which were reflected in previous revenue funding criteria (Medr/2025/15):

• Artificial Intelligence
• Digital Transformation and developing strategic approaches to digital learning
• Effective use and management of data

Looking forward

6. For future years, findings and themes from our evidence-gathering will be considered by Medr, along with feedback from the sector, to inform our decisions on future digital funding allocations. We are conscious that some projects funded under Medr’s Post-16 Strategic Development Fund in 2025/26 (Medr/2026/03) may also produce relevant findings and outputs.

Timing	Milestone or action
11 November 2026	Each institution to briefly outline its intended use of funding (Annex A)
c. 20 January 2027	Following receipt of Annex A, interim payment will be processed in January
15 July 2027	End-of-year expenditure reporting required (Annex B to be added in early 2027)
c. 20 August 2027	Following receipt of Annex B, final payment will be processed in August