Highland university bid raised fears of too many institutions

FEARS were raised Scotland would have too many universities if an institution in the Highlands and Islands was granted the status, it has emerged.

Final approval was granted last week by education secretary Michael Russell for the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) to gain official university status.

However, a consultation document on the decision, published yesterday, reveals there were concerns from key bodies.

They included fears from an anonymous respondent that the current financial climate could not sustain so many universities in Scotland.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also warned of increased competition in the higher education sector and possible over supply. Highland Council warned of duplication within UHI's colleges and said it could be confusing.

More than 40 responses were received from organisations and individuals, which were supportive overall. Groups including the Federation of Small Businesses, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Northern Constabulary were among those who gave support to the status being granted.

Although the SQA highlighted concerns, it was supportive of UHI gaining the status. It said: "Drawbacks may include increased competition within the higher education sector; and possible over-supply of HE provision - this depends on whether UHI can attract additional students to those already thinking of applying to an HEI."

Highland Council said the creation of a university was a long held aspiration which could be "transformational" for the region.

"Potential drawbacks may include duplication of functions and confusion in marketing but both these disadvantages can be overcome through the development of shared services," it said

However, UHI principal James Fraser pointed out the consultation responses were "overwhelmingly" in favour of the proposal.

He said: "Most people in Scotland have a choice of three or four universities within daily commuting distance."It is surely only equitable that the half million people of the Highlands and Islands have at least one university within their communities.

"UHI is a unique institution, which has a contribution to make to all of Scotland.

"The way in which UHI joins together the further education skills and training provided by colleges with university-level education and research is now being copied elsewhere in Scotland and is a model which has attracted visitors from all over the UK and across the world to learn from what we are doing."

A university for the Highlands has been mooted for decades with the UHI Millennium Institute created more than a decade ago.

The satellite model using existing colleges and centres scattered across the region, has been copied successful in both Cumbria and Cornwall which both gained the status years earlier.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Like the vast majority of those who responded to the consultation, both the SQA and Highland Council fully supported the granting of university status to UHI."