Ayr College pledges to deliver top teaching despite funding cuts

Aug 13 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FUNDING cuts will not stop us doing our job.

That’s the pledge from Ayr College, who’ve promised to deliver top level teaching – despite cutbacks to their budget.

The college, whose handouts have been slashed by the Scottish Funding Council, has been forced to make savings ahead of the new term.

And they’ve denied claims that courses and jobs could be at risk as part of the cost-cutting measures.

Ann McManus, director of student services, insisted: “Recruitment is up on previous years and there are very few available places left.

“The challenge we face is not having enough student places to go around.

“In line with Scottish Funding Council contracts, our plans for 2010/11 are to deliver more teaching hours to meet our targets than in previous years.

“I am not anticipating needing fewer staff to carry out this work.”

And she added: “During the past few months, the college board and senior managers have been working to make efficiency savings in order that we can rise to the challenge.

“We have achieved the savings we needed to make and our budgets for 2010/11 are set.

“When the economy begins to grow – as it no doubt will – Ayr College graduates will be ready and equipped to take advantage of renewed opportunities in Ayrshire.”

But it’s believed that concerns have been growing behind the scenes over the funding cutbacks, which are set to affect colleges across Scotland.

It comes on the back of last year’s industrial action at Ayr College, where furious staff went on strike after a pay dispute with principal Diane Rawlinson.

An Ayr College insider told the Post: “There are very real fears over certain courses, which could come under threat if they fail to attract bodies.

“The funding cuts across Scotland are quite savage and, make no mistake about it, Ayr College is going to be hit hard.

“There was voluntary redundancies offered earlier this year and staff are still wary of the situation.

“Hopefully they can ride the storm because the college is a real asset to Ayrshire.”