First partnership assembly sets agenda for the future

Nearly 100 delegates from across the University of the Highlands and Islands partnership will get together in Inverness today (Wednesday) for their first ever assembly.
 
Trade unions and the Scottish Funding Council will join staff, students, governors and executive teams for the day’s discussion. The gathering will consider how the partnership should continue to develop in the coming years to meet the needs of the region and respond effectively to a rapidly changing world.
 
Garry Coutts, chair of the university court, who called the meeting explained: “We have made great progress to improve the way we work and have achieved some remarkable success. We must continue to evolve but, most importantly, we must continue to strive to provide the highest quality further and higher education to satisfy all our students, as well as our employees and the wider community.
 
The university partnership stretches from Shetland to Argyll and Perthshire, and the Western Isles to Moray, and has 13 independent colleges and research institutions based in local communities. Since becoming a university in 2011, it has grown quickly, now hosting 40,000 students across both further and higher education.
 
“All students, no matter where they study, should have parity of experience. Staff should also be able to develop their careers to the highest level wherever they are,” explained Garry Coutts.
 
“We have our challenges but we also have a lot to be proud about. We must continue to build on our successes, strengthen our partnership for the future and improve the services we provide to our students and our communities.”
 
A programme board will explore partnership-wide options for change to address the challenges identified by students, staff and stakeholders at the partnership assembly and the next assembly will be in the New Year.