The Department of Education says it's wholly committed to developing the provision of higher education at The Nunnery in Douglas.

Education Minister Anne Craine has confirmed the location will become the department's higher education centre, though some courses will continue to be provided at specialist facilities elsewhere.

She says the department wants to have all the HE courses on offer here to be based at The Nunnery, which means International Business School students will be joined by the majority currently studying at the Isle of Man College and the Centre For Manx Studies.

Edward Oldham reports: (audio attached)

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The department says the new policy will allow course provision to be expanded and enable the main providors to work together.

It'll also address the acute accommodation shortage at the College, which has seen rising demand for space as the number of full-time students grows and vocational training is provided for some 500 Year 10 and 11 pupils from secondary schools.

In order to relocate everything a three year transitionary period has been set and, towards the end of 2010, the department will commission a progress review.

To assist with the co-ordination of the project a Higher Education Council - Chaired by Eddie Lowey MLC - has been set up.