Scotland: Universities, colleges face merger wave

Colleges and universities across Scotland are set to be merged under a major shake-up of further and higher education. Education Secretary Mike Russell outlined plans for removing what he called "wasteful duplication" across the college sector, by establishing regional groupings of institutions, writes Chris Marshall for The Scotsman.
Russell also called for greater collaboration between Scotland's universities, outlining the possibility of mergers there too if they made "educational and financial sense".
In a wide-ranging review of education for those aged 16 and over, plans were also revealed for improved governance and funding arrangements for universities and colleges. There was also a pledge to introduce a 'minimum income' of £7,000 (US$11,000) a year for Scottish students studying at university, and another that every 16- to 19-year-old would have a place in learning or training by the end of this financial year.
Full report on the Scotsman site.