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College merger consultation
08/04/2004
The Executive's record investment in further
education has to be matched by a commitment to get the
best value from each extra pound, Lifelong Learning
Minister Jim Wallace said today.
Mr Wallace was speaking as he launched a consultation
exercise on the proposal to establishScotland's first new FE college for more than a
decade.
The new 'GlasgowMetropolitanCollege' would be created by mergingGlasgowCollegeof Building & Printing and Glasgow College of
Food Technology, which already share a common location
inCathedral Street.
Mr Wallace said:
"Ministers place huge importance in ensuring the FE
sector best meetsScotland's economic needs and the aspirations of our
students. We have a duty to get the best value from
the record funding we are providing.
We need FE colleges which continue to boost
their efficiency and which continually seek out
opportunities for better delivery.
"As a matter of policy Ministers do not interfere in
the operation of our FE colleges. We leave key
decisions to the experts who lead them.
The proposal to merge has come from the two
colleges themselves, and I shall be considering closely the
case they have made, along with the views of other
interested parties.
"My task, before agreeing to the merger, is to make
sure that the proposal makes equal sense to all those who
might be affected. While I cannot pre-empt my
eventual decision, clearly the creation of
GlasgowMetropolitanCollegewould be a landmark in the history of the FE
sector.
"This merger would be a unique step, and
would build on the huge level of collaboration and joint
delivery which is already taking place in the FE sector.
" I am keen to see colleges everywhere continue to
identify opportunities to co-ordinate or share
delivery. Value for money is vital if we are to
continue to provide the world class learning opportunities
which our students deserve."
The Boards of Management of Glasgow College of
Building & Printing (GCBP) and Glasgow College of Food
Technology (GCFT) made a request to Ministers in December
2003 that they merge the colleges into a single, new
institution called 'GlasgowMetropolitanCollege'.
Discussions originally also involved Central
College of Commerce, who subsequently dropped out of
the initiative.
In terms of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, it is only Ministers who have the power
to open, close or merge colleges of further
education. Before exercising these powers, the Act
requires Ministers to consult with the education authority
and with anyone else who may be affected.
The Scottish Further Education Funding
Council will also advise Ministers on the proposal.
The consultation paper
'
Proposal to mergeGlasgowCollegeof Building and Printing andGlasgowCollege
of Food Technology'sets out the context and rationale behind the merger
proposal.
The closing date for responses is Tuesday 8
June.
The Scottish Executive has significantly increased
the funding of FE colleges since 1999, leading to
widespread improvements in quality and a rise in student
numbers of more than a quarter. In the current
Spending Review period, the FE sector is receiving a
further cash increase of 20% over the three years to
2005-06, which will bring annual investment in the FE
sector to over half a billion pounds
In 1993, under the terms of the Further and
Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, the FE colleges were given self-governing
status having formerly been the responsibility of the local
authorities. No new colleges have been established
since then.