THE future of Isle of Man College and the International Business School will be under the microscope in Tynwald on Tuesday (January 17).
Michael MHK Alf Cannan will ask Education and Children Minister Peter Karran MHK "In merging the Isle of Man College of Further Education and the International Business School what is the future vision for both entities and what is the envisaged cost saving?"
In October last year it was announced the college and business school were to be brought under a single management structure headed by Professor Ronald Barr, the principal of the college.
A month earlier director of the business school Professor Ged Watts - who was suspended - resigned.
At the May 24 sitting of the House of Keys the then Education and Children Minister Eddie Teare highlighted an overspend at the business school.
He told members there had been a "total adverse variance against the agreed budget of £319,156 for the year".
Mr Teare added that when the likelihood of an overspend at the IBS became apparent in January 2011 the
department took immediate action to limit spending on fixed assets and launched an investigation.
The Department of Education and Children (DEC) said in October the decision to create the single management structure for the college and business school followed a review by the department.
Chief executive officer of the DEC Stuart Dobson said: "Given the need to drive for business efficiency, the time is appropriate to streamline the running of higher education."
In a separate question Mr Cannan will ask Mr Karran: "In light of comments made regarding funding, what changes, if any, the department is proposing to make to financial support currently given to university and higher education students?"
And he will also ask a question about the Kirk Michael School land exchange agreement - something which he has asked questions about before.
Again, the question is for Mr Karran and Mr Cannan will ask: "Further to his predecessor's statement in Tynwald on 18th January 2011 and his own statement in the Keys on 25th October 2011, if he will confirm on what basis Heritage Homes had full access to the zoned land relevant to the Kirk Michael land exchange agreement?"
