Consultation launched

The University of the Highlands & Islands has launched a public consultation on its proposals to merge the three colleges under its banner into one entity, bringing UHI Outer Hebrides, UHI North Highland and UHI West Highland together as one.

UHI says the new partnership would support 9000 students and 600 staff in 19 rural and island campus locations across the north of Scotland.

In Uist the move will include the three learning centres under the UHI umbrella, Taigh Chearsabhagh in Lochmaddy, Lionacleit in Benbecula and Cnoc Soilleir in Daliburgh.

UHI has offered its assurances that no compulsory redundancies will be required as a direct result of merger, saying: “The merger is about doing more, not less. By coming together, we create a more resilient, sustainable organisation, which will continue to serve our local communities in the way we do now, but with more impact. We will have combined capacity to better meet the needs of our communities and to respond to the range of social, cultural and economic opportunities that make our region one of the most exciting places in the country to live, work and study right now. It is important people get involved and have their say.”

EIS union representative Donnie Macdonald, Lews Castle College, said: “The proposed merger is important because it will set the trajectory for further and higher education across the West and North of Scotland. It is a fundamental principle that education in Scotland remains within the public sector and we are glad that the Partnership Board and Principals have agreed with us on that issue, ensuring a key recommendation of this proposal is that the new college will be incorporated as a public sector college. ”`

Informal information sessions are being held locally at:
North Uist learning centre – Taigh Chearshabagh – Tuesday 27 September, 10.30am to 1pm. 
Benbecula learning centre Liniclate – Tuesday 27 September, 2.30pm to 5pm. 
Cnoc Soilleir learning centre, South Uist, Thursday 29 September, 9.30am to 12pm.
Online, Wednesday 28 September, 7pm to 8pm.
Full details of how to attend on the UHI merger website.
Members of the public are invited to return their views on line, or by email to rural-islands-merger@uhi.ac.uk.

The full merger proposal is available to view at www.rural-islands-merger.uhi.ac.uk
The consultation runs until Friday 14 October.