UHI tells councillors public consultation showed ‘significant support’ for college merger
The University of the Highlands and Islands has told councillors in the region that there was significant support for a merger of three colleges in its charge.
Lydia Rohmer, principal designate for a proposed merger of the colleges, told councillors the move would “unlock a better future”.
Ms Rohmer is principal of UHI West Highland and is now leading on the proposed merger between UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland colleges.
The plan is to create an “anchor institution” in the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
Addressing Highland Council’s education committee on Wednesday, Ms Rohmer reassured elected members that the merger would allow the institution to do more, not less. Most importantly, she said, it would keep education local.
UHI has recently completed a 10-week consultation running from August to October. The full results are yet to be published, but Ms Rohmer said it showed significant support for the merger plan.

She stressed that the merger would not lead to redundancies, and instead would trigger a £15 million estates investment.
Dr Michael Foxley, chairman of the partnership board leading the project, joined Ms Rohmer in highlighting the positives.
Dr Foxley spoke of the unprecedented opportunities facing Highland, particularly in the field of renewables.
However, planning chairman councillor Drew Millar expressed concern about placing too much emphasis on renewables. He said the new national planning framework represents a direct threat to local democracy, and Highland needed to “watch our backs”.
Despite his reservations about the scaling up of renewables, Mr Millar welcomed the presentation from UHI and the ambition of the vision.
Dr Foxley told the council committee “in college land, size matters”. He said the merger would give UHI a loud voice in fighting for the needs of remote and island communities on a national scale.
If agreed, the new UHI college will be vested on August 1, 2023.