The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has approved funding to enable Forth Valley College and Edinburgh College to develop a Business Case examining the potential for greater collaboration between the two institutions, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce reported.
The funding follows an announcement in June that the Boards of both colleges had agreed to explore whether stronger collaboration could deliver additional benefits for learners, staff, employers and their respective communities, according to Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
The Business Case represents an evidence-gathering stage of the process, and no decisions have been made about future partnership arrangements, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said. The work will examine existing areas of collaboration between the colleges as well as opportunities to strengthen these further, with areas considered potentially including sharing expertise and aligning activity in key growth sectors, while recognising the distinct identity, strengths and local roots of each college.
Kenny MacInnes, Principal of Forth Valley College, said the funding enables the colleges to undertake the detailed work needed to understand properly both the opportunities and implications of closer collaboration with Edinburgh College. He said their priority is to ensure that any potential future proposals are supported by robust evidence and demonstrate clear benefits for learners, staff, employers and the communities they serve. He added that no decisions have been made about what any future arrangements might look like, and said staff and student engagement will be central to the process, with the college committed to being open and keeping its community informed as the work develops.
Audrey Cumberford, Principal of Edinburgh College, said: “It’s great news that the SFC have recognised the potential of this project and our ambitions and have given us the backing to make progress with it.” She said that along with the Scottish Government there is a clear appetite to explore reform in the sector and ensure colleges are fit for the future, and said she cannot wait to get the process underway and continue dialogue with staff, students and stakeholders about the potential benefits collaboration between the two colleges could bring.
The completed business case is expected in Spring 2027, at which point the Boards of both colleges will examine the findings and decide on whether both colleges will move further towards greater collaboration, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said.