A merger between a college and two other education providers could remove the college from the governance arrangements that apply to other FE colleges in Scotland, the EIS teaching union has warned.
The EIS, which represents college lecturers in Scotland, has raised “serious concerns” over the proposed merger of Shetland College, Train Shetland and the NAFC Marine Centre - in particular, the suggestion that the new, merged institution could be “unincorporated” and therefore sit outwith the strict governance arrangements for Scotland’s public sector FE colleges. Shetland College is currently run by the local authority - one of two colleges that did not incorporate in 1993.
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Emergency meeting
The union had previously written to education secretary John Swinney and the Scottish Funding Council, as well as all Shetland Island councillors. It is now calling for an emergency meeting of the College Lecturers’ Joint Consultative Committee (CLJCC) at the college. Appropriate consultation with lecturing staff - and others within the college community - is essential before any decisions are made on the proposed merger, said the union.
The three-way merger was formally given the go-ahead last year with the aim of creating a single, financially-sound college for Shetland. The organisation, reportedly due to be called the Shetland Institute, will be part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “While the EIS is supportive of the proposed merger, we continue to have significant concerns about suggestions that any new entity will be an unincorporated body, and therefore sit outwith the established governance arrangements for the Scottish further education sector. Given the importance of Shetland College to the local community, and considering the significant amount of public money involved, it is essential that appropriate scrutiny is in place.”
Mr Flanagan added: “The EIS has written to all parties concerned to raise our concerns related to this merger, and we continue to seek resolution to those concerns. We feel it is essential that there is appropriate consultation with staff, students and the wider community on the future of further education at Shetland College. To support this aim, the EIS is now calling for a special emergency meeting of the College Lecturers’ Joint Consultative Committee to allow for open and frank discussion of the issues related to the proposed merger.”
