The decision, announced yesterday, comes after it was exposed as having suspect links to foreign colleges, including an institution run by a Malaysian pop star with bogus degrees.

In a statement, the university says: ¡°The transformed university will cease to be an accrediting body for other universities in Wales.

¡°It will instigate discussions with these universities to withdraw from awarding degrees to their students. The university will also bring to a close validated programmes offered at centres in the UK and overseas and introduce a new academic model.¡±

It says it has a ¡°duty of care¡± to students on existing programmes and will honour its current commitments to them.

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¡°However, from next year, all universities in Wales will either have to use their own degree-awarding powers or make other arrangements for the courses they run both locally and on a transnational basis,¡± the university adds.

Other institutions affected will have one year to prepare for the changes.

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The move follows criticism from Leighton Andrews, the Welsh education secretary, who said the institution had let down Wales following the foreign accreditation scandal.

Peter Noyes, vice-chancellor of the University of Wales Newport, said his institution might have to use its own powers to fill the gap.

¡°This is of deep regret to me and it now seems inappropriate for the University of Wales to hold the title that it does,¡± he told the BBC.

david.matthews@tsleducation.com