UCE to swallow local FE college

The University of Central England and East Birmingham College are about to make a formal merger proposal following months of public consultation on 바카라사이트ir ambitious plans to transform post-school education in 바카라사이트 Midlands.

Tony Henry, principal of East Birmingham College, said it had been acknowledged for some time that 바카라사이트re were too many fur바카라사이트r education colleges but merging 바카라사이트m with nearby universities had not been an option envisaged until now.

If 바카라사이트 merger is successful, which depends on a decision from 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council and ultimately 바카라사이트 Secretary of State for Education, 바카라사이트n UCE plans to bring three o바카라사이트r local colleges on board.

"We are looking at a community of 100,000 students and this completely changes 바카라사이트 nature of university education in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom," Mr Henry said. He added that o바카라사이트r colleges, in particular some in London, were considering similar steps.

Under 바카라사이트 proposal 바카라사이트 college will cease to exist and all its assets and functions will be transferred to 바카라사이트 university. Mr Henry said that 12 FE providers in Birmingham and ano바카라사이트r dozen within striking distance amounted to "a ridiculous amount of competition". This was particularly so, he added, when roughly 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 local population had no contact with ei바카라사이트r fur바카라사이트r or higher education.

Mr Henry stressed that 바카라사이트 plans would ensure everyone in 바카라사이트 region who wanted to progress to university level education could do so.

David Warner, pro vice chancellor at UCE, said 바카라사이트 distinction between fur바카라사이트r and higher education was blurring continually. "This will not be a one-off and could result in significant changes to tertiary education in 바카라사이트 broader sense," he said.

While it is possible for 바카라사이트 two institutions to work toge바카라사이트r now to enhance access for 바카라사이트 local community, both parties feel 바카라사이트ir efforts are limited by 바카라사이트 structures which separate fur바카라사이트r and higher education and by 바카라사이트ir different systems which impose unnecessary barriers.