Three Colleges Embark on Merger Project
Lews Castle College UHI, North Highland College UHI and West Highland College UHI align to unlock new opportunities for students, staff and local communities in the Highlands and Islands.
Three colleges are involved in a strategic project that seeks to bring together Lews Castle College UHI, North Highland College UHI and West Highland College UHI to form a new college within the University of the Highlands and Islands partnership by January 2023.
In order to progress with the plan, a Merger Partnership Board has been formed to achieve the vision and aims of all three colleges and to steer the process. The Board consists of the Principals and Board Chairs of the three organisations, together with staff and student representatives from the three college boards and members of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association. The board will develop a proposal which would inform the final decision of each of the college boards involved.
The Board is chaired by Dr Michael Foxley, who served as the University of the Highlands and Islands regional lead for Further Education between 2014-2021. A Merger Co-ordinator will be appointed in the next few weeks that will work across all three Colleges to support the Merger Partnership Board, associated workstreams and the full consultation process.
Joint statement from the College Principals
“We believe this is a unique opportunity to develop a new college of scale and impact that serves and supports around 9000 students in 20 remote rural and island campus locations across the Highlands, Skye and the Western Isles.
We will bring together and build on existing excellence and expertise within our three organisations in order to drive a step change for education from school to university as well as in research, enterprise and innovation in our region.
Whilst there is a huge amount of work to be done over the next few months to explore with our key staff, students and stakeholders whether this can be successfully achieved, we agree that this is the absolute best option for our colleges. We believe we can better serve our students and our communities by providing a wider range of study options for our students and strengthened career pathways and job satisfaction for our staff.
We will also be able to unlock new opportunities for future strategic development and investment through ambitious collaborations and projects that, as single small colleges, we are unable to achieve.”
ENDS
Media enquiries:
- Lews Castle College UHI - Kathryn Lamont Smith - kathryn.lamontsmith@uhi.ac.uk
- North Highland College UHI – Nicola Cameron - nicola.cameron@uhi.ac.uk
- West Highland College UHI – Cheryl MacRae - cheryl.macrae.whc@uhi.ac.uk
Websites:
Home - Lews Castle College UHI
Home - North Highland College UHI
Home - West Highland College UHI
19 Dàmhair 2021
Fios Naidheachd
Trì Colaistean an sàs ann am Pròiseact Co-aontachaidh
Tha Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI, Colaiste Ceann a Tuath na Gàidhealtachd UHI agus Colaiste Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd UHI a’ co-aontachadh gus cothroman ùra fhuasgladh airson oileanaich, luchd-obrach agus coimhearsnachdan ionadail sa Ghàidhealtachd agus Na h-Eileanan.
Tha trì colaistean an sàs ann am pròiseact ro-innleachdail a tha ag amas air a bhith a’ toirt ri chèile Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI, Colaiste Ceann a Tuath na Gàidhealtachd UHI agus Colaiste Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd UHI gus colaiste ùr a stèidheachadh ann an com-pàirteachas Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean mun Fhaoilleach 2023.
Gus am plana adhartachadh, chaidh Bòrd Com-pàirteachas Co-aontachaidh a stèidheachadh gus lèirsinn agus amasan nan trì colaistean a choileanadh agus gus am pròiseas a stiùireadh. Air a’ Bhòrd tha Prionnsabalan agus Cathraichean nan trì buidhnean, agus riochdairean bho luchd-obrach agus oileanaich bho bhùird nan trì colaistean agus buill de Chomunn Oileanach na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Leasaichidh am bòrd tagradh a chuireadh ri co-dhùnadh deireannach bùird nan colaistean air fad a tha an sàs.
Is e Dr Mìcheal Foxley a tha mar chathraiche air a’ Bhòrd, agus bha esan mar cheannard roinneil airson Foghlam Adhartach aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean eadar 2014-2021. Thèid Co-òrdanaiche Co-aontachaidh a chur ann an dreuchd sna beagan sheachdainean ri thighinn a bhios ag obair thar nan trì Colaistean air fad gus taic a thoirt don Bhòrd Com-pàirteachas Co-aontachaidh, na sruthan obrach a bhios na chois agus am pròiseas co-comhairleachaidh air fad.
Co-abairt bho Phrionnsabalan nan Colaistean
“Tha sinn a’ creidsinn gur e cothrom air leth a tha seo colaiste ùr a leasachadh de mheud agus buaidh a bhios a’ frithealadh agus a’ toirt taic do mu 9000 oileanach ann an làraich iomallach agus eileanach air feadh na Gàidhealtachd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
Bheir sinn ri chèile agus togaidh sinn air an t-sàr-mhathais agus an ealantas a tha sna trì buidhnean againn gus ceum air adhart a ghabhail airson foghlam bho sgoil gu oilthigh cho math ri rannsachadh, iomairt agus ùr-ghnàthachas san roinn againn.
Ged a tha tòrr mòr obair ri dhèanamh thar nam beagan mhìosan a tha romhainn gus a bhith a’ rannsachadh còmhla ri ar prìomh luchd-obrach, oileanaich agus luchd-ùidh an gabh seo a choileanadh gu soirbheachail, dh’aontaich sinn gur e seo dha-rìribh an roghainn as fheàrr dha na colaistean againn. Tha sinn dhan bheachd gun urrainn dhuinn ar n-oileanaich agus ar coimhearsnachdan a fhrithealadh chun na h-ìre as fheàrr le bhith a’ tabhann raon nas fharsainge de roghainnean ionnsachaidh airson ar n-oileanaich agus slighean dreuchd nas làidire agus sàsachadh nan obair do ar luchd-dreuchd.
Bidh e comasach dhuinn cuideachd a bhith a’ fuasgladh chothroman ùra airson leasachadh agus seilbheachd tro cho-obrachaidhean agus pròiseactan àrd-amasach nach b’ urrainn dhuinn a choileanadh mar cholaistean beaga, singilte.
A’ CHRÌOCH
Fiosrachadh airson nam Meadhanan:
- Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI - Kathryn Lamont Smith - kathryn.lamontsmith@uhi.ac.uk
- Colaiste Ceann a Tuath na Gàidhealtachd UHI – Nicola Cameron - nicola.cameron@uhi.ac.uk
- Colaiste Taobh Siar na Gàidhealtachd UHI – Cheryl MacRae - cheryl.macrae.whc@uhi.ac.uk
Làraich-lìn:
Dachaigh - Lews Castle College UHI
Dachaigh - North Highland College UHI
Dachaigh - West Highland College UHI