This week’s blog is by Professor Jane Lewis, Principal and CEO of UHI Shetland. Colleges Scotland is marking the diversity and variety of work that Scotland’s 24 colleges do with our blog series, 24 in 2024.

In a few short weeks, the Scottish Parliament will hear from Ministers on their plans for funding each part of the public sector in 2025/26. Colleges as part of the Education and Skills portfolio will be watching carefully to understand the level of investment that is available. Colleges Scotland have recently made a compelling case in a Budget Submission on behalf of all 24 colleges in Scotland which, if the investment was granted, would bring some stability to the college sector. Audit Scotland in it’s most recent college finance report show there has been a real terms 17% cut in college investment since 2021/22 – a very stark drop. 

I want to use this article to give some examples of the really challenging choices and decisions which have come to colleges like UHI Shetland because of falling funding. Going into the new academic year, which began just a few weeks ago, our financial situation continues to be challenging, and we are still working to put the college on a sustainable footing.   

Additionally in this period there have been rises in the cost of living, not least for the college an increase in energy costs – non-domestic energy costs having risen by 66% across the period 2021 to 2024. Substantial operational costs for our college are incurred for both our campuses in Shetland. Maintenance, heating, lighting, rent, and other costs amount to some £250,000 per year for our Scalloway Campus and for Lerwick some £340,000 per year. Usage surveys of our teaching spaces show that both campuses are underutilised compared to sector norms.  

Both ageing campuses will need substantial maintenance input in the coming years as well as being in need of upgrade and improvement, notably to meet our Net Zero commitments. The Scottish Funding Council are working through an overarching Infrastructure plan for the college sector which should, hopefully, give a direction of travel in terms of our estates and spaces.

Faced with these challenges, the College Board has made the decision to reduce the college to one campus and to explore the feasibility of this move being to Scalloway. This will preserve our limited student accommodation, access to the sea and specialist engineering and laboratory facilities. Other facilities and teaching spaces will need to be accommodated on the Scalloway site, but there are unused buildings on the campus that we would hope to repurpose to accommodate Shetland’s training and learning needs for the future.  

We are also keen to ensure some Lerwick based provision. Gremista, where the Lerwick Campus is currently situated, is not easily accessible, whereas a base in the heart of Lerwick would be beneficial for students and the local economy. We will be working with stakeholders such as the Shetland Islands Council to look for a suitable space. We have started meetings with staff and students to establish our future needs. Over the coming year we will consult further with staff, students, and our stakeholders to develop plans for change. We anticipate these changes will likely take some 3-4 years to implement to see a single campus for UHI Shetland come to fruition.  

Our aim is a modern, welcoming and campus, meeting the future needs of a tertiary college for Shetland, students, and staff, providing the education needed to support industries in the isles. We hope our current and future students, staff, stakeholders, and the community will engage with us over the coming year to help us shape the future of UHI Shetland.

In essence, while the financial landscape is extremely challenging, UHI Shetland is utilising every opportunity to cement the future of the college for this generation, and the next. Sustainable investment from the upcoming Budget, and the SFC Infrastructure plan, is essential to help us achieve this goal.