Specialist/Research
Partners
SAMS, SMO, NAFC Marine
Centre, Highland Theological
College
Assigned Colleges
- Orkney
- Shetland
- West Highland
- Argyll (to be assigned)
Incorporated Colleges
Perth
Inverness
Moray
North Highland
Lews Castle
Main Implications of Post 16 Act on
further education provision
• Regional Strategic Body (UHI) given wide ranging responsibilities (in
addition to HE responsibilities) including:
– Administering funds for further education
– Securing coherent provision of a high quality of FE and HE
– Planning on a regional basis ensuring funds are used as
economically, efficiently and effectively as possible
– Monitoring performance of colleges including impact of
education and colleges’ financial and other affairs
– Receiving information from colleges as required, give directions
to colleges
• Responsibilities delegated to UHI FE Regional Board in line with
terms of reference agreed by University Court
…and for incorporated colleges
• Transfer of staff and property to another college or to
UHI under certain circumstances
• Appoint chairs and independent members to boards
• Approve appointment of principals of incorporated
colleges
• 5 incorporated colleges are deemed subsidiary
undertakings of UHI by virtue of control – consolidated
accounts required from 1st August 2014
ONS reclassification to public bodies
• Affects 5 incorporated colleges only:
– Power of Scottish Ministers to merge or close colleges, to wind
up and dissolve boards of management and power in respect of
composition and membership of boards of management
– Processes used to budget, report and account for financial
information changed from 1st April 2014
– Monthly cash projections – no funding in advance of need
– Surpluses generated would become Scottish Gov’t funds if not
used in year or transferred to arm’s length foundation
– Low delegated authority limits for spend by incorporated colleges
• UHI/SFC sign off required for each transaction
Responsibilities of Assigned College Boards
• Manage the college (finance, staff, etc)
• Negotiate a local outcome agreement with the FE Regional Board
and ensure delivery against it
• Ensure compliance with local financial memorandum
• Oversee local stakeholder engagement (employers, CPP, etc) within
context of regional strategy
Responsibilities of UHI FE Regional Board
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Negotiate FE elements of SFC Outcome Agreement
Establish strategic direction for FE in assigned colleges within regional strategy
Regional mapping and planning of FE provision
Allocation of FE funding to assigned colleges through local outcome agreement
Promote and facilitate shared services and strategic partnerships between one or
more college and the university
Provide focal point for engagement with national and regional partners and
ensure oversight of local college links with CPPs
Monitor college performance and hold colleges to account for delivery of local
outcome agreements and compliance with local financial memorandum
Be held to account by the University Court for delivery of the FE elements of the
SFC Outcome Agreement
Encourage and support innovation within and between the UHI partnership
Ensure effective regional communication
Recommend to University Court chair and member appointments to boards of
incorporated colleges