7/31/2019 120528 Michael Russell on College Mergers

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Runairea' Chaibineit airson FoghlaimaguslonnsachadhFad-

bheathaCabinetSecretary for Education and Lifelong Learning

Michael Russell MSP/BPA

F I T : 08457741741

E: scottish.ministers@scotland.gsLgov.uk

Ms Kezia Dugdale MSPThe Scottish ParliamentEDINBURGH

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The ScottishGovernmentRiaghaltas na h-Alba

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A GAMES LEGACY FOR SCOllAND

T~af. you for your letter of 2 May passing on the concerns of your constituent about theproposed merger between Stevenson, Telford and Jewel and Esk Colleges.

Your constituent suggests that the students of Edinburgh do not feel included in the process

and that they regard the consultation process as futile. I must say that this has come as a

surprise and, in the large volume of letters I regularly receive on college issues, this is thevery first which makes reference to any significant concern amongst the learners of

Edinburgh over the proposed merger. In these circumstances I must question whether

disengagement with the process is in reality the prevailing sentiment amongst learners.

To offer a concrete example, I recently attended the launch of the Edinburgh Colleges

Festival which involved a programme of events jointly organised by all three colleges toshowcase the superb talents of Edinburgh's learners. On that occasion I was fortunate to

meet many learners, none of whom conveyed any sense that they feel disengaged or

ignored by the process. I also regard it as a significant that one of the first joint ventures of

the three colleges should be one that so overtly and collaboratively celebrated the talent of

our learners.

The colleges have now completed a full and proper consultation exercise and it has been

open to any learner to participate. I have insisted on seeing every single response to the

consultation. Serving learners is the key purpose of all our colleges and it is inconceivable

that the views expressed by learners will ever be ignored by this Government.

Ministers will shortly underpin that consultation exercise by themselves seeking views on the

proposed merger. I can assure both you and your constituent that I will very carefully

consider every response that I receive, and not least those from learners, before taking a

decision on whether or not to approve the merger.

Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dun Eideann EH1 3DG

St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG

www.scotland.gov .uk

mailto:scottish.ministers@scotland.gsLgov.ukhttp://www.scotland.gov/http://www.scotland.gov/mailto:scottish.ministers@scotland.gsLgov.uk

7/31/2019 120528 Michael Russell on College Mergers

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Regarding your other points, I am aware of no intention of the colleges concerned to make

compulsory redundancies as a direct result of merger nor to reduce the quality of provision

offered to students. You will be aware that I have strongly encouraged colleges to avoidcompulsory redundancies. There are, however, limits to my powers in this regard. Colleges

are legally independent employers of staff and Ministers consequently have no statutory

power to interfere in such matters. It used to be the case that Ministers had a power of

direction over colleges but this was removed in 2006 by then Labour Minister Allan Wilson.

I am happy to outline the educational benefits of this proposed merger. The pooling of the

resources, expertise and good practice of three already excellent colleges will create a worldclass institution and one of the largest of its kind in the UK, serving the educational needs of

learners throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. The scale of the new institution will afford itan influence that will extend well beyond the city limits, with seamless articulation links with

universities and much closer engagement with both local authorities and employers.

With regard to the curriculum of the unified college, the intention is that this will be designedto very closely reflect economic need, thereby increasing the employability of learners. I

understand that the intention is to create 'hubs' in key growth sectors such as construction,

engineering and renewables. These hubs will serve as centres of excellence where learnerscan benefit from specialist teaching expertise and equipment.

Should you, or your constituent, be in interested in finding out more, the colleges have

published a summary of the merger proposal document and a copy can be found here:

http://www.stevenson.ac.uk/about-us/new-edinburgh-college/merger-proposal/. I will be

happy to consider any detailed comments which your constituent may care to provide to me,either directly or through you.

I do hope that this reply has been helpful in outlining what the three colleges see as the great

potential of the proposed Edinburgh College. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity torespond to these concerns.

MICHAEL RUSSELL

Taigh Naomh Anndrais, Rathad Regent, Dun Eideann EHl 3DG

St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EHl 3DG

www.scotland.gov .uk

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http://www.stevenson.ac.uk/about-us/new-edinburgh-college/merger-proposal/http://www.scotland.gov/http://www.scotland.gov/http://www.stevenson.ac.uk/about-us/new-edinburgh-college/merger-proposal/