The Open University in Wales launches manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election

The Open University (OU) in Wales has today published its manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out a bold vision for flexible, accessible, and sustainable higher education.

The manifesto urges the next Welsh Government to take action to make sure part-time and flexible learning remains available to everyone in Wales, particularly those from communities that have traditionally faced barriers to education.

Since 2014/15, funding for flexible higher education has fallen significantly in real terms. Despite this, thousands more students across Wales have chosen to take up study with the OU.  This shows that there is an appetite for study that can fit around work, family, and other commitments. Many of these students joined the University from some of Wales’ most underprivileged communities or without any prior qualifications.

Addressing the funding challenge

However, the University is warning that its ability to sustain this level of provision will come under pressure unless the next Welsh Government addresses the funding challenge and ensures that flexible higher education gets the support that it needs.

The manifesto published today sets out several priorities for the next Welsh Government. These include:

• protecting fair maintenance support for part-time students,
• improving funding for part-time provision, and
• increasing the part-time fee loan cap.

It also highlights how flexible higher education can help drive economic growth, develop vital skills, and address workforce shortages in sectors like teaching, nursing, and social care.

Changing lives, strengthening the economy, and bringing communities together

Publishing the manifesto, the Director of The Open University in Wales, Ben Lewis, said:

“The manifesto we are publishing today sets out a clear set of actions the next Welsh Government can take to make sure people of all ages and backgrounds can access learning that fits their lives, builds their skills, and opens new doors.

“We know that flexible study changes lives, strengthens the economy, and helps to bring communities together. We also know that the way people want to learn is changing – they want more flexibility, not less.

“That’s why we need the next Welsh Government to work with us to make sure that we can continue to offer these transformative opportunities to people across Wales.

“The past few years have been difficult for universities. The next Welsh Government has an opportunity to take bold action to address the challenges we face, and during the coming months, we will be asking all parties to put flexibility at the heart of their plans.”

The manifesto also calls for flexible higher education to be a core part of national skills initiatives, supporting lifelong learning and helping people to keep developing their skills throughout their lives.

Click here to read the full manifesto.