Scottish Government consultation on merger of UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland launches

The Scottish Government has formally launched its consultation into the proposed merger of UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides, and UHI West Highland.

At the end of last year, the boards of management at UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland formally approved the merger proposal and business case, which will see them come together to form UHI North, West and Hebrides from 1 August 2023, subject to Scottish Government approval. 

Merger requires approval by Scottish Ministers under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. The closing date for government consultation responses is 5 May. 

The merger has support from UHI, as the regional strategic body, as well as key bodies, organisations and political representatives including MSPs for the merged college area, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). 

The Scottish Government consultation comes as the Transition Board for UHI North, West and Hebrides met for the first time following approval of the business case.  

The Transition Board, which will become the Board of Management of UHI North, West and Hebrides, replaces the Partnership Board, which was set up to lead the case for merger. The Transition Board is responsible for overseeing the merger implementation programme of work and delivering a fully functional merged college on vesting date.  

It includes membership from staff and student representatives, members from the existing boards of management at each college, non-executive members, and trade union observers, bringing together a wealth of experience, knowledge, and skills. Dr Michael Foxley, who chaired the Partnership Board, joins the Transition Board as one of the non-executive members.  

Derek Lewis, Chair of the Transition Board, said: “The launch of the Scottish Government consultation and formation of the Transition Board are two important milestones for this merger, which brings together three outstanding colleges and their respective teams. We encourage stakeholders to provide feedback on our plans through the Scottish Government consultation, which follows two extensive consultations carried out by our project team to inform the development of our merger proposal and business case. While that consultation takes place, a huge amount of work continues in all three colleges to prepare for our planned 1 August vesting date, and I want to personally thank staff for their commitment, enthusiasm, and effort in getting us to where we are today.  

“UHI North, West and Hebrides will have the scale and expertise to meet the needs of traditional and emerging sectors, providing the learning and training needs for the workforce, now and in the future. It will also play a key role in attracting people to live, work and study in our rural and island communities.”  

The Transition Board meets monthly, with face-to-face meetings planned in UHI North Highland in April, UHI Outer Hebrides in May and UHI West Highland in June. This will ensure board members have the opportunity to visit local campuses and meet with staff and students in these areas.  

By coming together, UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland will create a more sustainable organisation with combined capacity and resource to grow the curriculum, research, and innovation; develop existing and new partnerships to support employers address skills gaps and retain, attract, and nurture talent; and become more responsive to the social, cultural, and economic opportunities in our regions. 

With 9000 students, 600 staff and 19 learning centres and campuses stretching from Caithness and Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty to Lochaber, Wester Ross, Skye, and the Outer Hebrides, the merged college is ideally placed to develop Gaelic language provision and respond to the region’s key growth sectors including the economic opportunities around net zero decarbonisation, renewable energy, engineering, advanced manufacturing, and aquaculture.  

The Boards of Management at UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland will continue to work alongside the Transition Board until vesting. Local advisory committees will be introduced post vesting to ensure local needs continue to be met.  

+ To take part in the Scottish Government consultation, visit: Rural and Islands College Merger proposal: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 

+ To view the merger proposal and business case, including a summary of the 12-week consultation carried out by the merger programme team, visit: Home - Rural and Islands College Merger Project (uhi.ac.uk) 

For more information, please contact Helen Aird, Merger Communications Officer, on merger.sco@uhi.ac.uk  or telephone 07584 616 252.   

ENDS  

Fios-antideath – airson a chleachdadh sa bhad | Media release - for immediate use 

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Aig deireadh na bliadhna a chaidh seachad, dh’aontaich na bùird rianachd aig UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar gu foirmeil ris a’ mholadh co-aonaidh agus a’ chùis gnothachais, a chì iad a’ tighinn ri chèile gus a bhith a’ stèidheachadh UHI a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall bho 1 Lùnastal 2023, ma gheibh iad cead bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba.    

Feumar aonta bho Mhinistearan na h-Alba fo Achd Foghlaim Leantainnich agus Àrd-fhoghlaim (Alba) 1992.  Is e an ceann-là dùnaidh airson freagairtean co-chomhairleachaidh an riaghaltais 5 Cèitean. 

Tha taic aig a’ cho-aonta bho UHI, mar am buidheann ro-innleachdail roinneil, cho math ri prìomh bhuidhnean, eagrachasan agus riochdairean poilitigeach a’ gabhail a-steach BPAan airson roinn co-aonaichte na colaiste, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean (HIE) agus Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba (SDS). 

Tha co-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ tachairt an dèidh do Bhòrd Eadar-amail UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall coinneachadh airson a’ chiad uair an dèidh dhan chùis ghnothachais a bhith air aontachadh.  

Tha Am Bòrd Eadar-amail, a bhios a’ dol na Bhòrd Rianachd airson UHI a Tuath, an Iar agus Innse Gall, a’ dol an àite a’ Bhùird Chom-pàirteachais, a chaidh a shuidheachadh gus a’ chùis airson co-aonadh a stiùireadh. Tha Am Bòrd Eadar-amail an urra ri bhith os cionn a’ phrògram-obrach co-aonaidh agus a’ lìbhrigeadh colaiste co-aonaichte làn ghnìomhach air a’ cheann-là stèidheachaidh. 

Tha e a’ gabhail a-steach ballrachd bho riochdairean luchd-obrach agus oileanaich, buill bho na bùird rianachd a tha a-cheana aig gach colaiste, buill neo-ghnìomhach, agus coimheadaichean aonaidhean-ciùird, a bhios a’ tarraing ri chèile luach de dh’fhiosrachadh, eòlas agus sgilean.   Bidh an Dr Mìcheal Foxley, a bha na chathraiche air a’ Bhòrd Chom-pàirteachais, a’ dol an sàs sa Bhòrd Eadar-amail mar aon de na buill neo-ghnìomhach.   

Thuirt Derek Lewis, Cathraiche a’ Bhùird Eadar-amail: “Tha a bhith a’ cur air bhog co-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus stèidheachadh a’ Bhùird Eadar-amail mar dà chlach-mhìle chudromach airson a’ cho-aonaidh seo, a tha a’ toirt trì shàr cholaistean agus na sgiobaidhean a tha nan cois ri chèile.  Tha sinn airson ar luchd-ùidh a bhrosnachadh a bhith a’ toirt fios air ais a thaobh ar planaichean tro cho-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba, a tha a’ leantainn dà cho-chomhairleachadh farsaing a rinn ar sgioba phròiseict gus fiosrachadh a chur ris a’ mholadh againn a thaobh co-aonadh agus a thaobh ar cùis gnothachais.  Fhad ’s a bhios an co-chomhairleachadh sin a’ gabhail àite, bidh mòran obair a’ dol air adhart sna trì colaistean gus a bhith ag ullachadh airson ar ceann-là stèidheachaidh air 1 Lùnastal, agus tha mi gu pearsanta airson taing a thoirt don luchd-obrach airson an dealas, an dìorras agus an oidhirp ann a bhith gar toirt chun t-suidheachaidh a tha againn an-diugh.”   

“Bidh an sgèile agus an t-ealantas aig UHI a Tuath, an Iar is Innse Gall airson coinneachadh ri feumalachdan nan earrannan traidiseanta agus an fheadhainn a tha a’ fàs, a’ tabhann nam feumalachdan ionnsachaidh agus trèanaidh airson an luchd-obrach, aig an àm a tha an làthair agus airson an ama ri teachd.  Bidh e cuideachd a’ cluich prìomh dhreuchd ann a bhith a’ tàladh dhaoine gu bhith a’ fuireach, ag obair agus ag ionnsachadh nar coimhearsnachdan dùthchail agus eileanach.” 

Bidh am Bòrd Eadar-amail a‘ coinneachadh gach mìos, le coinneamhan aghaidh-ri-aghaidh air am planadh ann an UHI a Tuath sa Ghiblean, UHI Innse Gall sa Chèitean agus UHI a Tuath san Ògmhìos. Nì seo cinnteach gum bi cothrom aig buill a’ bhùird a bhith a’ tadhal air àrainnean ionadail agus a’ coinneachadh ri luchd-obrach agus oileanaich sna ceàrnaidhean sin.” 

Le bhith tighinn còmhla, cruthaichidh UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar le chèile, buidheann nas seasmhaiche le comas agus goireas gus curraicealam, rannsachadh agus ùr-ghnàthachadh fhàs; com-pàirteachasan a tha ann a-cheana agus feadhainn ùra a leasachadh gus taic a thoirt do luchd-fastaidh dèiligeadh ri gainnead sgilean san raon againn agus cumail, tàladh agus fàs tàlant; agus a bhith nas mothachail air na cothroman sòisealta, cultarail agus eaconamach a tha sna roinnean againn. 

Le 9000 oileanach, 600 neach-obrach agus 19 ionadan ionnsachaidh agus àrainnean a’ sìneadh bho Ghallaibh is Cataibh, Ros is Cromba gu Loch Abar, Ros an Iar, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach, agus na h-Eileanan an Iar, tha a’ cholaiste aonaichte ann an suidheachadh air leth freagarrach airson solar Gàidhlig a leasachadh agus freagairt a thoirt do prìomh roinnean fàis, a’ gabhail a-steach nan cothroman eaconamach timcheall air dì-charbonachadh lom neoni, lùth ath-nuadhachail, innleadaireachd, saothrachadh adhartach, agus tuathanachas-uisge. 

Bidh Bùird Rianachd UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar a’ leantainn orra ag obair taobh ri taobh ris a’ Bhòrd Eadar-amail gus an ceann-là a stèidheachaidh.  Bidh comataidhean comhairleachaidh ionadail air an suidheachadh an dèidh an stèidheachaidh gus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheilear a’ leantainn air adhart a’ dèiligeadh ri feumalachdan ionadail.   

+ Gus com-pàirteachadh ann an co-chomhairleachadh Riaghaltas na h-Alba, tadhail air: Rural and Islands College Merger proposal: consultation - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 

+ Gus am moladh co-aonaidh agus a’ chùis gnothachais fhaicinn, a’ gabhail a-steach geàrr-iomradh air a’ cho-chomhairleachadh 12-seachdain a rinneadh leis an sgioba prògram co-aonaidh, tadhail air: Home - Rural and Islands College Merger Project (uhi.ac.uk) 

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, cuir fios gu Helen Aird, Oifigear Conaltraidh a’ Cho-aonta, aig merger.sco@uhi.ac.uk  no cuir fòn gu 07584 616 252.   

Notes to editors | Notaichean do luchd-deasachaidh  

1. UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland are the trading names of North Highland College UHI, Lews Castle College UHI, and West Highland College UHI, respectively.  

Is e UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar ainmean malairt Colaiste Gàidhealtachd a Tuath UHI, Colaisde Caisteal Leòdhais UHI, agus Colaiste Gàidhealtachd an Iar UHI.   

2. UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland partners of UHI, the University of the Highlands and Islands, a diverse tertiary partnership serving our communities and connected to their needs. We offer flexible and supported learning from access level to PhD, as well as research opportunities rooted in place and purpose. The diversity and flexibility of our partnership is our greatest strength, allowing us to deliver more.  

Tha UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar nan com-pàirtichean de UHI, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean com-pàirteachas treas ìre eadar-mheasgte a tha a’ frithealadh ar coimhearsnachdan agus co-cheangailte ris na feuman aca.  Tha sinn a’ tabhann ionnsachadh sùbailte agus le taic bho ìre inntrigidh gu Phd, cho math ri cothroman rannsachaidh freumaichte ann an àite agus adhbhar.  Is e ar prìomh neart an t-iomadachd agus an sùbailteachd a tha nar com-pàirteachas, a tha a’ leigeil leinn a bhith a’ lìbhrigeadh barrachd.  

3.  UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland support 9000 students and 600 staff in 19 remote, rural and island campus locations covering the Highlands, Skye and the Western Isles.  

Tha UHI Gàidhealtachd a Tuath, UHI Innse Gall agus UHI Gàidhealtachd an Iar a’ toirt taic do 9000 oileanach agus 600 neach-obrach ann am 19 làrach campais iomallach, dùthchail agus eileanach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Nan Eilean an Iar.