Blog | Building a sustainable college for the future - reshaping island education for our communities

Blog | Building a sustainable college for the future - reshaping island education for our communities

In our latest blog, Lydia Rohmer, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI North, West and Hebrides, reflects on the learning opportunities, economic transformation and unprecedented growth potential in the Outer Hebrides.

For over seven decades, post-school further and higher education has been at the heart of the Outer Hebrides' economic development. Today, as our islands stand on the cusp of unprecedented opportunity, UHI North, West and Hebrides is evolving to ensure our communities can fully grasp the transformative possibilities ahead.

The decision to merge UHI Outer Hebrides with its sister colleges UHI North Highland and UHI West Highland wasn't taken lightly, but it was necessary. The financial reality facing Scotland's college sector is stark - with Audit Scotland reporting a 17% reduction in funding since 2021/22. Our previous operating structure, with separate small rural and island colleges, was becoming increasingly unsustainable, with UHI Outer Hebrides previously operating at a deficit. By coming together as one institution, we've already achieved £3.3 million in efficiency savings without resorting to compulsory redundancies.

This merger has also allowed us to build greater capacity and resilience. With larger scale, we can better weather austerity and leverage our resources to enhance our curriculum and qualifications, with over 300 courses offered, as well as research, knowledge transfer, and innovation. This positions the new college to make an even more significant contribution to our diverse communities.

Our leadership of major Island Growth Deal projects further demonstrates our commitment to regional transformation. Our stewardship of the Island Centre for Net Zero and TalEntEd initiatives is shaping the green energy and skills agendas, ensuring our island communities are at the forefront of this transition.

This extends to a £2.4 million investment in our Stornoway campus creating a Technology Innovation Centre, including a Future Energy Lab that will deliver essential skills for renewable energy developments in planning for our islands. New mobile STEM facilities will bring cutting-edge education to young people across the Outer Hebrides.

Our strategic collaboration with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and partners to establish a Hydrogen Skills and Innovation Centre at Creed Business Park also puts us at the forefront of the green energy revolution. As leaders of the skills workstream for the Major Developers Forum, we're ensuring our communities can seize the opportunities from multi-billion-pound investment in renewables.

The recent major multi-million-pound investment by Scottish Government for Cnoc Soilleir in South Uist exemplifies our commitment to preserving and promoting our unique island cultural heritage. This joint venture with our partners Ceolas will create a new education hub for Gaelic language, culture, and heritage, ensuring these essential aspects of island identity continue to thrive alongside technological advancement.

Our curriculum continues to evolve: from supporting energy engineering and construction to delivering programmes in Gaelic, creative arts, history, heritage, maritime studies, aquaculture, sustainable development, crofting and peatland conservation, hospitality, business, early years, health and social care, adventure tourism, international golf, gamekeeping, and equestrian management, we're maintaining the delicate balance between skills needed for today's workforce with those needed for the future. Our unique expertise in digital delivery and online pedagogy ensures that geographic barriers no longer limit educational access.

The scale of opportunity before us is unprecedented. The Outer Hebrides is gaining global recognition not only as a top tourism destination but also as a future green energy powerhouse. Through building a more sustainable college with greater capacity and impact, we are helping these opportunities translate into real community benefits and pathways to sustainable employment across multiple sectors.

Despite these exciting developments, we acknowledge change brings challenges. Our staff have shown remarkable resilience as we've created new systems and ways of working. The recent union dispute over our proposed operating structure highlights the importance of getting this right. We're actively engaging with unions and staff, having committed to a thorough two-stage review of our new structure to ensure it will deliver its purpose.

Serving over 8000 learners across 19 college centres, including over 1000 senior phase learners at 33 secondary schools, our student satisfaction remains high at 92%, demonstrating our core mission of excellent education hasn't been compromised. The 80 plus HISA Awards nominations for our staff members speak to their dedication to student support and helping every learner to realise their potential.

Looking ahead, our role as anchor institution and economic enabler is critical. As the Outer Hebrides become a green powerhouse, our college must ensure local communities are the primary beneficiaries. Our curriculum, skills, research, and knowledge transfer offers create a framework to drive real economic transformation and growth.

Our 70-year history gives us a deep-rooted understanding of local need. Now, as we face the most significant transformation opportunity in these islands' history, we're building on that foundation to create educational opportunities for generations to come. By working together - staff, students, unions, employers, our local advisory committee, and communities - we can ensure our college continues to be the catalyst for the sustainable, prosperous future our islands deserve.

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