Opportunities for post-school training and university-level study are boosted as the European Regional Development Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have awarded ₤7.5 million to Argyll College UHI and the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI to expand their teaching and learning provisions around Oban.

The money will be used to create larger and better equipped teaching and learning facilities for the two partners of UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.

Argyll College UHI has outgrown its facilities at the Dunstaffnage Learning Centre and will relocate to refurbished premises at Glenshellach Business Park in Oban. SAMS will take over and extend the Argyll College building to accommodate its growing portfolio of courses. The extended SAMS building will include a visitor centre to showcase marine science, and improve engagement with the local community. Argyll College UHI’s Little Learners Nursery will remain at Dunstaffnage.

Michael Breslin, director of Argyll College UHI, said: "We have prospered at Dunstaffnage and under other circumstances we would have wanted to stay and expand in nearby Dunbeg.  However, we offered to relocate to help SAMS, our partner in UHI, and we're delighted to say that the building at Glenshellach will be our new home.  We now look forward to a new beginning for the college in Oban."

The director of SAMS, Professor Laurence Mee, added: “We have excellent research facilities at Dunstaffnage but limited capacity to deliver teaching. This grant will allow us to expand our teaching provision significantly to include Masters programmes and professional development courses. The new developments will make it easier for people in Oban to access courses at Argyll College UHI and bring more students to SAMS, enhancing both local prosperity and education infrastructure.”

The two institutions have been working together to develop their plans and ensure optimum use of scarce resources to enhance the educational opportunities in the Oban area.

UHI principal, Professor Bob Cormack, warmly welcomed the plans: “This is excellent news for the people of Argyll who will now have more access to lifelong learning and higher level study opportunities. It makes sense that SAMS should expand around its Dunstaffnage centre while the college can provide more facilities in Oban.  The EU and HIE funding demonstrates the importance of research and teaching to give people the skills and qualifications to build their careers and support the local economy.”   

Argyll College UHI hopes to complete its relocation by Christmas 2009, and the extended SAMS teaching facility must be completed by the end of 2010.