The ex-education minister of Wales has called for a review of higher education finance as he slammed what he claimed was a "two-year slash and burn programme" proposed at Cardiff University. Leighton Andrews, the former minister turned Cardiff University business professor, appeared on BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement to speak about the proposals to cut 400 jobs and several degree courses at the university.

At the end of January Cardiff University announced their plans for a 90-day consultation which proposed the closure of nursing, modern languages, music, ancient history, translation, religion, and theology courses. The proposals would also cut 7% of jobs including 40 out of 200 staff in Prof Andrews' department. When the plans were announced the university's vice-chancellor, Prof Wendy Larner, said: “The precarious financial position of many universities, particularly in the context of declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive are well-documented. We know here at Cardiff University that it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are.”

Prof Andrews called the fact health minister Jeremy Miles was only told about plans to cut the nursing course a week before the announcement "absolutely shocking". He said he felt the decision showed the university's leadership no longer regards Cardiff University as part of a Welsh higher education system. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter.

But he said the situation, which he called "a moment of fundamental significance" for the Welsh Government and Welsh democracy, was a "moment of choice" for the Welsh Government as he thought it wouldn't be unreasonable for them to step in and have a view on what is taught in the sector.

Prof Andrews said he believed what he called a "two-year slash and burn programme" would have been reduced had the university acted earlier in the day as he encouraged staff to vote for strikes and other industrial action after 1,800 of them were told their jobs were at risk of redundancy. When asked about the culture he said it feels very toxic. "I think there is a climate of fear at the university about speaking out," he added.

He continued: "What they have done is frankly destroy trust and goodwill within the university and morale at the moment is through the floor. These are the people you need, the academics, to boost the university in the future, to do the ground-breaking research that is needed, but at the moment everybody's focus is on their own jobs."

Looking to the future he called for a review into university finance in Wales. "I think that needs to report after the next Senedd elections in order to take it out of the political to-and-fro and I think there needs to be some cooperation between the Welsh Government and the opposition parties in creating such a review and getting it under way very soon," he said.

Cardiff University has stressed the cuts are proposed and discussions remain ongoing. They have also said that, like other universities, the institution is facing the combined pressures of inflation, a fall in the number of higher-paying international students, static home student tuition fees, and new National Insurance payments. The university has said the situation it is in is not sustainable and must be faced. The UCU union has warned it will ballot for industrial action which could follow this term.