The merger to form SRUC was particularly challenging. Four institutions were brought together. In governance terms, we achieved that technically by merging Barony College, Elmwood College and Oatridge College into the legal entity of the Scottish Agricultural College, but we were clear that we wanted to launch a new institution, in effect. That is why we changed the name to Scotland’s Rural College or SRUC. The “U” was there because the long-term intention at that stage was that the institution could become a university.
On merger, we adopted governance arrangements to recognise the importance of education and research, with dedicated boards. That proved to be particularly relevant. However, to streamline our governance and achieve the efficiencies that have been referred to, we subsequently changed to an academic board.
It is important to say that, during the merger period, there had to be a lot of focus on rationalising, changing and developing a new culture for the organisation and a set of shared values. Perhaps it is better to look at what the funding council said. It said that that approach had been a success, but it recognised our on-going estates and finance issues.
We have been through an effective governance review at the board level. It is important to say that we have an academic board, which we have just strengthened. It will meet again tomorrow.
There is a vibrancy in the organisation now about developing the academic strategy for the future. We have a clear focus on the fact that we would like to seek degree-awarding powers, because we see that that would provide an assurance about our future and an ability to develop our independence. The fact that we cannot play on a level playing field on the international stage is one of the things that hamper us. We seek to increase our number of international students.