Learner engagement
Medr’s strategic plan sets out our aim to focus the tertiary education sector around the needs of the learner. We aim to help tertiary education providers to deliver the best possible experience for learners.
Whether you’re a learner or student in further or higher education, a sixth form pupil, an adult learner or an apprentice, our goal is to equip learners to move into, through, and beyond tertiary education so that you can succeed in work and life.
At Medr, we are currently building our work around learners and setting up structures to engage directly with our learners in Wales.
Some of the work on these pages was previously undertaken by the Welsh Government or the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW). Over time, we are planning a more joined-up approach to learner engagement and learner voice across the whole tertiary education sector.
If you have any questions about the content on these webpages, please contact [email protected].
Learner engagement in decision-making
Medr will be developing a Learner Engagement Code, intended to ensure that learners’ interests are represented, that they have the opportunity to give their views to providers about the education and training they receive, and that they are able to participate in their providers’ decision-making.
Universities, colleges, school sixth forms, apprenticeship providers and adult community learning providers will all be required to comply with the Learner Engagement Code.
In October 2025 we launched a consultation on the draft Learner Engagement Code, which is due to be finalised and published in spring 2026.
The learner voice informs the work of governing bodies across all institutions providing higher and further education and helps to ensure that the decisions made by governing bodies take account of the needs of the diverse body of learners.
Student governors make a special contribution to universities and colleges every year, and bring a highly valuable context and perspective to their institutions and to the way they are run. The Guide for student governors in Wales, created by Advance HE, is aimed at student governors to aid them in their role.
Medr funds Student Governor training across Wales so student governors in both higher education and further education can start their term by understanding the role and being empowered. NUS Charity will provide this training for academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27. For more information on this programme please contact [email protected].
Learner engagement is a key part of external quality reviews carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency for higher education providers, and included as part of inspections by Estyn for all other parts of the tertiary education sector.
Medr will be developing a Learner Engagement Code, intended to ensure that learners’ interests are represented, that they have the opportunity to give their views to providers about the education and training they receive, and that they are able to participate in their providers’ decision-making.
Universities, colleges, school sixth forms, apprenticeship providers and adult community learning providers will all be required to comply with the Learner Engagement Code.
In October 2025 we launched a consultation on the draft Learner Engagement Code, which is due to be finalised and published in spring 2026.
The learner voice informs the work of governing bodies across all institutions providing higher and further education and helps to ensure that the decisions made by governing bodies take account of the needs of the diverse body of learners.
Student governors make a special contribution to universities and colleges every year, and bring a highly valuable context and perspective to their institutions and to the way they are run. The Guide for student governors in Wales, created by Advance HE, is aimed at student governors to aid them in their role.
Medr funds Student Governor training across Wales so student governors in both higher education and further education can start their term by understanding the role and being empowered. NUS Charity will provide this training for academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27. For more information on this programme please contact [email protected].
Learner engagement is a key part of external quality reviews carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency for higher education providers, and included as part of inspections by Estyn for all other parts of the tertiary education sector.
Protecting learners
Tertiary education providers (except sixth forms) will be expected to prepare a Learner Protection Plan, setting out how they will protect learners’ interests in the event of course closure or provider failure, and what mechanisms they have in place to support learners who wish to transfer courses.
Medr has a duty to ensure that tertiary education providers (except sixth forms) have procedures for investigating complaints made by learners and former learners, and that they make their learners aware of these.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator is the body responsible for reviewing student complaints about higher education providers in Wales and England.
Learners can also complain to Medr about systematic problems about quality and standards within their provider, normally after having completed their own provider’s complaints procedures.
Tertiary education providers (except sixth forms) will be expected to prepare a Learner Protection Plan, setting out how they will protect learners’ interests in the event of course closure or provider failure, and what mechanisms they have in place to support learners who wish to transfer courses.
Medr has a duty to ensure that tertiary education providers (except sixth forms) have procedures for investigating complaints made by learners and former learners, and that they make their learners aware of these.
The Office of the Independent Adjudicator is the body responsible for reviewing student complaints about higher education providers in Wales and England.
Learners can also complain to Medr about systematic problems about quality and standards within their provider, normally after having completed their own provider’s complaints procedures.
Find out more about Medr’s work
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