A merger of Scotland’s land-based colleges has been green lighted by their various boards. The Boards of Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges and SAC have today announced their formal agreement to merge.

The four partners said this morning that such a merger “Presents a unique opportunity to combine and enhance their vision of a dynamic and successful approach to Higher and Further Education, high quality research and consultancy provision within a single, integrated organisation.”

The colleges said consultations conducted with staff, students and other stakeholders had helped them reach their decision prior to today’s announcement. Subject to the approval of the Cabinet Secretary, a new college will come into existence on 1st August.  

The new College will be known as ‘Scotland’s Rural University College’ or ‘SRUC.’ The new college will become the first University College in Scotland following a transitionary period of 12 to 18 months, SAC sources said today. SAC Chief Executive and Principal, Professor Bob Webb, will become Chief Executive and Principal of SRUC following the merger.

SAC said consulting and the services it provides to its clients will continue uninterrupted as part of the new SRUC. The institutions involved in the merger, which was instigated by three colleges in September last year, before the addition of Barony College in October, said SRUC is set to become “The first fully integrated tertiary education, research and consultancy institution for the rural and land-based sectors in Europe”.

Andy Robb, Chairman of the Merger Partnership Board said: “SRUC will bring together the features of four very successful colleges in their own right. We are very excited about the fact that, for the first time in Scotland, learners and stakeholders will have comprehensive and integrated expertise available to them for the full range of skills, training, education, research and business support.”

Tweet