LOG IN21st June 2007
Merger agreement is catalyst for new Black Country super-college
The merger of Stourbridge College and Dudley College has been agreed in principle by their Governors, creating the largest and potentially most successful further education college in the Black Country.
Both colleges have approved proposals for merger, setting wheels in motion on ambitious plans for a state-of-the-art super-college.
The new college will operate from three campuses – the existing Stourbridge and Dudley sites, and an iconic new facility planned for Brierley Hill.
Significantly, the move heralds massive investment plans which could exceed £100million, initially including Stourbridge’s planned £31million visual and performing arts centre at Brierley Hill, Dudley’s planned £17million engineering centre at Dudley’s Broadway campus and a wholesale redevelopment of the Hagley Road site in Stourbridge.
The merger will pool the strengths of both institutions, and promises good news for students, staff and local employers explained the chairs of Dudley and Stourbridge College Corporations.
“The demographics of the Black Country are changing and so are the area’s further education requirements,” said Viv Astling, chair of Dudley College Corporation.
“As one bigger, better college with a single voice and vision, we can be more responsive to the needs of local employers and operate more efficiently, effectively and innovatively for both students and future generations of learners.”
Stourbridge College Corporation chair Rosemary Slater said: “By signing up to this merger, we’ll be able to increase resources, enabling us to secure truly world-class facilities and widen our curriculum portfolio for the 35,000 full and part-time students we serve.”
“This places the new college in a stronger position to develop specific areas of specialism” said Stourbridge College principal Lynette Cutting. “It means we can offer greater choice for the local 16-plus population, and to attract more students from further afield.
“Indeed, our ambitions will confirm the new college as a leading FE provider placing it among the top 10 per cent in the country in terms of size.”
Collectively, Dudley and Stourbridge colleges employ 1600 people. Whilst there will inevitably be changes at the top, both college principals are confident that staff can look forward to a positive future.
“Our teaching staff are a fantastic resource with extensive expertise and skills,” said Lynette Cutting. “Staff will benefit from working in new state-of-the-art facilities with better training and career pathways.
Dudley College acting principal Neil Bromley added: “We’ve already seen that successful mergers create more jobs and career opportunities and these proposals are an exciting and positive step forward.”
The merger decision was based on the outcomes of an independent feasibility study commissioned by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC). The report recommended that “a merged college will provide the strongest possible model for moving forward for both colleges.”
LSC area director Andy Brown said: “This represents a very important opportunity for re-thinking the best way to deliver further education in Dudley and Stourbridge.
“Real credit should be given to the Corporations of Dudley College and Stourbridge College for their determination to ensure the best possible solution is provided to local learners and employers.
“There is a genuine determination to ensure that first class facilities and high quality learning opportunities are available and that they are fit for the future. “
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council chief executive Andrew Sparke added: "Improving skills is the key challenge for the whole of the Black Country and these proposals give us the vehicle for a major leap forward.
“The opportunities arising from a single large scale college organisation, without loss of a focus on educational presence in the main townships of the borough of Dudley, are very welcomed."
A working group is now being established to set out detailed plans and agree next steps.
