Written by Cross-Campus President William Campbell and Cross-Campus Vice President Education Gary Souter.
On the morning of the 27th of February 2024, we were contacted formally by UHI Moray about proposed changes at the College, including the cutting of courses and plans for staff redundancies. Whilst these are currently only proposals, the changes are concerning for students, both those currently studying at UHI Moray and those for whom opportunities may be restricted in the future.
You can find this statement from UHI Moray here.
If you are concerned about these proposed cuts or the impact it may have on your studies, please contact us at hisa.moray@uhi.ac.uk . Please also consider attending our All-Student Meeting, which is being held online on 7th March at 1 pm (hyperlink to meeting) and in C116 at Moray Street Campus, which will be extended to include questions about the cuts from 2-3 pm which can be attended in person and online.
Our Advice Service can help with how the proposed changes might affect you regarding progression or complex concerns you might have about the matter. The service will assist you with submitting a complaint via UHI’s Complaints Handling Procedure if required. More information on the support provided can be found online: hisa.uhi.ac.uk/advice.
In the meantime, we have asked for a full copy of the consultative paper that staff have already seen, and we have started dialogue with trade union representatives about the proposed cuts and their stances on the matter, which we will continue to have throughout this process. The consultative paper was sent to us on 29th February, after being shared with staff in January, and we are currently examining it and the potential impact on our students with a meeting scheduled with senior management at Moray in the coming days.
Highlands and Islands Students’ Association President William Campbell and Vice President Gary Souter commented on the developing situation at UHI Moray
“We are deeply disheartened and dismayed by the prospect of UHI Moray considering cuts to essential provisions crucial for the local community. The lack of swift communication with us, the Highlands and Islands Students Association, and the student body is particularly troubling, given that students are among the primary stakeholders affected by any changes and as your Cross-Campus Officers our focus is your learning experience which this will affect.
These potential cuts stem from the Scottish Government's budget reductions totalling £100 million, which is truly devastating. As President of the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association, I implore the Government to reverse these cuts and enhance tertiary education funding across Scotland, especially in the UHI Region. Our students already face significant challenges in funding and access to equal opportunities, and further cuts exacerbate these disparities.
We know the importance of UHI Moray and the positive impact it has on students, Gary himself being a former UHI Moray student knows just how much of a positive impact UHI Moray has had over many years.
Our message to the students of UHI Moray: we stand united, prepared to listen, and resolute in our determination to act. You deserve better. Let us rally together, for the future of UHI Moray, for the future of the community, and for the future of education in Scotland.”
These proposed cuts show that the current model of funding that Universities and Colleges face in Scotland puts a massive strain on services that are provided in our local regions. Local cuts will be the result of this. However, our top priority as the students’ association is and will always be our members. During this whole process, we will be taking all student feedback and holding UHI Moray to account for each decision they make.