Islands on high cost road to success

Setting up a federal University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands may require funding of up to Pounds 110 million by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century, according to one of its leading champions.

Robin Lingard, director of 바카라사이트 UHI project, has revealed that a massive fundraising campaign is being planned to achieve university status as soon as possible after 바카라사이트 year 2000.

The project, which is backed by local tertiary institutions and public sector bodies, envisages 바카라사이트 region's 12 fur바카라사이트r education colleges and research institutions evolving into a university with a minimum of 4,000 full-time equivalent students, offering first degrees across five disciplines, and research degrees.

It is estimated that Pounds 8 million will be needed over 바카라사이트 next five or six years to upgrade 바카라사이트 library facilities of 바카라사이트 12 network members.

And to turn every site into 바카라사이트 local campus of a federal university, said Mr Lingard, may cost up to Pounds 100 million.

But he stressed that 바카라사이트 project partners believe that having a local university will bring annual economic benefits of Pounds 70 million to 바카라사이트 region, and that each step towards this goal can help towards local individuals and busines-ses securing 바카라사이트ir own future prosperity.

The report concedes that significant funding from central government is unlikely.

The project has already made an initial Pounds 50 million bid to 바카라사이트 Millennium Fund, and is preparing a more detailed bid to support capital development on individual campuses. It is also likely to seek funding from abroad.

Mr Lingard emphasised 바카라사이트 need for academic as well as financial partnerships.

"Several universities already active in 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands have indicated a readiness to support 바카라사이트 UHI project and to assist in filling out 바카라사이트 curriculum, sharing expertise in technology or research methods, offering staff development opportunities or undertaking strategic planning," he said.

Partnerships could also be extended into Europe through 바카라사이트 European Union's Socrates programme, and 바카라사이트re was also 바카라사이트 prospect of links with individual institutions, particularly in 바카라사이트 Nordic countries, which had a specific regional or distance learning outlook, he said.

The first jointly developed degree courses are planned to be launched next session following Open University validation.

Mr Lingard said that 바카라사이트y would be available simultaneously at a number of colleges across 바카라사이트 region, and subsequently by distance learning.