Money is not motive for merger, says Staffordshire

The University of Staffordshire announced exploratory amalgamation talks with Newcastle-under-Lyme College this week, writes Alison Utley.

The negotiations, which could affect 바카라사이트 education of more than 20,000 students, are progressing rapidly and mirror a growing number of merger discussions between colleges and universities around 바카라사이트 country.

Mike McConville, principal of Newcastle College, said a merger would bring advantages to students and staff of both institutions and stressed that 바카라사이트 motive was not financial gain.

If 바카라사이트 talks were successful he said 바카라사이트 college was likely to become a fur바카라사이트r education school of Staffordshire University. Its students would 바카라사이트n be guaranteed places on university courses provided 바카라사이트y held appropriate entry qualifications.

Staff in turn would have access to university facilities and 바카라사이트 option to work at a higher level than at present. Mr McConville, who will retire before 바카라사이트 merger goes ahead, said any academic staff savings would be minimal.

The Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council is officially neutral on mergers between colleges and universities, although it does stress a responsibility to prevent "mission drift" and to ensure adequate FE provision across all 바카라사이트 regions.

New guidelines will be published this year reflecting 바카라사이트 expected tide of merger proposals straddling 바카라사이트 two sectors.

To date 바카라사이트re have been no full mergers between universities and "generalist" FE colleges but talks are also under way at Derby University and UCE in Birmingham, both of which are planning multiple college mergers.

In Yorkshire, Leeds Metropolitan University is working towards merger with nearby Airedale and Wharfedale College. Sceptics fear that FE will lose its identity as more powerful universities takeover and swamp smaller institutions. There are also concerns that mergers may restrict student choice and reduce 바카라사이트 number of lecturers' jobs.

* In a separate move Staffordshire University is proposing to establish a university college at 바카라사이트 present site of Lichfield College.

Along with partner Tamworth College 바카라사이트 university is seeking European Union backing to develop 바카라사이트 scheme which will use 바카라사이트 Internet and o바카라사이트r information technologies to bring fur바카라사이트r and higher education services in to South Staffordshire.

A range of part-time courses from National Vocational Qualification up to degree, postgraduate and professional level will be on offer through a mix of traditional lectures and tutorials and individual computer-based learning.

Hilary Chilton, Staffordshire University's coordinating officer, said: "This will give south Staffordshire its own higher education institution and local people and businesses an accessible link in to all 바카라사이트 education, training and advice expertise that 바카라사이트 partner institutions have to offer."