The Department of Education and Children has issued more information about the joining together of higher education, offered at the Isle of Man College and International Business School, under a single management structure. The merged institution will be entitled the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education and the International Business School site will become known as the University Campus. Considerable work has been undertaken in securing arrangements with the Isle of Man College’s academic partners and students currently on HE courses will be unhampered by the merger. A great deal of work has also taken place in developing a proposed staffing structure for the merged institution which meets future HE, FE and vocational development needs while also ensuring financial savings. Consultation commenced today (Wednesday) on a proposed staffing structure for the merged institution, details of which have been shared with the relevant staff and unions, who have been asked to submit views and comments on the proposed structure and associated job descriptions by no later than 5pm on Friday 13 January 2012. A total of 18 posts (15.45 full-time equivalent) could be affected by the proposals and, in some cases, may not be required under the new structure. However, there are various opportunities for redeployment and it is hoped to avoid redundancies as far as possible. The proposed structure as it impacts on staff presently based at the International Business School details 17 potentially available posts (14.9 FTE), which is a reduction of 0.55 FTE from the staffing level at the IBS as at January 2012. It is proposed that the finalised staffing structure for the merged institution will be implemented with effect from 1st July 2012. The joining together of the two institutions, which will be headed by Professor Ronald Barr, was announced in October http://www.gov.im/education/ViewNews.gov?page=lib/news/education/highereducationt1.xml&menuid=11570 and followed a review of the way that the HE provision that falls under the DEC is run. Ends