08
AYRSHIRE UPDATE
Ayr College
Dam Park
Ayr
KA8 0EU
Telephone: 0800 199798
Email: [email protected]
website: www.ayrcoll.ac.uk
Feedback from public consultation
kilmarnock College
Main Campus
Holehouse Road
Kilmarnock
KA3 7AT
Telephone: 01563 523501
Email: [email protected]
website: www.kilmarnock.ac.uk
Public Consultation
376 written responses received =
0.1% of the total Ayrshire population.
272 responses were from students =
1.9% of the student population.
Summary of Responses
There was almost unanimous support
for the creation of a new regional college
from key stakeholders in Ayrshire: Local
Authorities, University of the West of
Scotland, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and
Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, University of Dundee and
Scottish Qualifications Authority
and a wide range of businesses.
JAmes Watt College
North Ayrshire Campus
Lauchlan Way
Kilwinning
KA13 6DE
Telephone: 01294 559000
Email: [email protected]
website: www.jameswatt.ac.uk
They agreed that a single college would
provide a more coherent and
straightforward pathway for students and
a unified gateway for business to forge
partnerships with the college sector
across Ayrshire. They suggested that
a single college’s greater capacity and
reach would allow a more strategic view
to be taken and that this would help to
deliver the skills needed in the region
and assist in fostering economic growth.
Some students thought that there would
be a single Ayrshire College campus and
that other campuses would close. This will
not be the case; Ayrshire will have one of
the best estates in Scotland including the
campus in Ayr with its new Aerospace
building, the excellent campus in
Kilwinning and a new campus being built
in Kilmarnock to open in early 2016. The
campuses will provide local access for
students across Ayrshire.
Increased travel costs for students were
a concern. The new college will offer
a comprehensive range of programmes
at further education level across all
campuses to provide local access and
support inclusion. At a higher education
level there may be some specialist centres
across locations and in partnership with
universities. However, travel plans will
be considered and students and staff
will be consulted on future proposals.
Students with additional support needs
were concerned about their continued
support. It is planned that the new
Ayrshire College will continue to ensure
appropriate provision for students with
additional support needs for the
purposes of seamless transition to
work or further study.