A familiar and respected figure has taken the helm at UHI Perth, with Catherine Etri stepping back from retirement to lead the educational institution through a period of significant financial challenges. In a comprehensive interview, Ms. Etri firmly stated that there is absolutely no intention of cutting university degree programmes, a move previously considered by some as a drastic measure to address the college’s substantial multimillion-pound deficit. Her return is driven by both deep professional commitment and a personal connection to the college, having dedicated over three decades of her career to its development and seen her own twin sons thrive within its halls.
Ms. Etri’s personal investment in UHI Perth is profound. She recounts advising her twin sons to bypass their final year of secondary school, encouraging them instead to enroll at the Perth college. This, she believed, would offer them a more valuable and focused year of study. This anecdote underscores her unwavering belief in the college’s educational provision and its vital role in the lives of young people across Perth and Kinross. Her tenure at the Perth institution spanned 34 years, culminating in her retirement as vice principal just last July. However, the intervening period witnessed the college plunge into a crisis, prompting her crucial return.
The departure of her predecessor, Dr. Margaret Cook, in May, following widespread calls for her resignation, highlighted the severity of the situation. Dr. Cook’s exit came amidst revelations of a challenging financial landscape. Earlier this year, reports confirmed that the institution was grappling with a daunting £2 million deficit. The former finance chief, Gavin Stevenson, who also resigned, issued stark warnings, even suggesting the ‘nuclear option’ of discontinuing degree courses, a proposal that was ultimately dismissed by senior staff.
Ms. Etri does not shy away from acknowledging the gravity of the task ahead. She candidly describes the financial situation as “very challenging.” Over the summer months, she embarked on what she terms a “mammoth task,” meticulously scrutinizing every budget line to formulate a robust financial recovery plan. Her primary objective is to significantly reduce expenditure while safeguarding jobs and minimizing any cuts to existing courses, a testament to her dedication to the college’s workforce and its diverse academic offerings.
Crucially, the notion of eliminating university degrees, a topic that caused considerable anxiety within the community, is unequivocally off the table for Ms. Etri. She declared, “That’s absolutely not the case. Not a chance.” Instead of retrenchment, her vision includes expanding the university college’s educational provision, further enriching the opportunities available to students in the heart of Perthshire.
Beyond financial restructuring, Ms. Etri is committed to revitalizing the internal culture at UHI Perth. She openly admitted to staff feeling “negative” and “despondent” in the wake of the turbulent period the college endured. While refraining from direct criticism of Dr. Cook, Ms. Etri acknowledged the “very difficult circumstances” her predecessor had to navigate. These challenges included the abrupt insolvency of Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited (AST), a firm with a long-standing association with UHI Perth, responsible for training thousands of pilots and aircraft engineers. AST’s collapse in April left many students in an uncertain predicament.
Ms. Etri expressed profound disappointment over the AST situation but offered a firm guarantee: every single AST student will be provided with the opportunity to complete their course. This commitment involves a complex logistical operation, including arranging for students to be transferred to Humberside Academy, a solution achieved after extensive behind-the-scenes work. UHI Perth is dedicated to covering all associated travel and accommodation costs, ensuring that “what we signed them up to is what we will provide them.”
The previous finance chief, Mr. Stevenson, had criticized the broader funding model of the Highlands and Islands educational network, where institutions contribute funds to a central office, claiming it was “broken.” Ms. Etri indicated that changes are currently being implemented to streamline how funding operates, which could potentially lead to reduced costs for UHI Perth. When asked about further financial assistance from the central office, her response was pragmatic: “We would always want more money. I wouldn’t say no to more funding.”
As UHI Perth embarks on this recovery journey, Ms. Etri’s leadership signals a renewed focus on stability, student welfare, and a commitment to its diverse educational portfolio, all while addressing the underlying financial pressures head-on. The future of higher education in Perth and Kinross remains a critical component of the region’s development, and the community will be watching closely as this experienced leader guides the college towards a more secure and prosperous future.
Ms. Etri’s personal investment in UHI Perth is profound. She recounts advising her twin sons to bypass their final year of secondary school, encouraging them instead to enroll at the Perth college. This, she believed, would offer them a more valuable and focused year of study. This anecdote underscores her unwavering belief in the college’s educational provision and its vital role in the lives of young people across Perth and Kinross. Her tenure at the Perth institution spanned 34 years, culminating in her retirement as vice principal just last July. However, the intervening period witnessed the college plunge into a crisis, prompting her crucial return.
The departure of her predecessor, Dr. Margaret Cook, in May, following widespread calls for her resignation, highlighted the severity of the situation. Dr. Cook’s exit came amidst revelations of a challenging financial landscape. Earlier this year, reports confirmed that the institution was grappling with a daunting £2 million deficit. The former finance chief, Gavin Stevenson, who also resigned, issued stark warnings, even suggesting the ‘nuclear option’ of discontinuing degree courses, a proposal that was ultimately dismissed by senior staff.
Ms. Etri does not shy away from acknowledging the gravity of the task ahead. She candidly describes the financial situation as “very challenging.” Over the summer months, she embarked on what she terms a “mammoth task,” meticulously scrutinizing every budget line to formulate a robust financial recovery plan. Her primary objective is to significantly reduce expenditure while safeguarding jobs and minimizing any cuts to existing courses, a testament to her dedication to the college’s workforce and its diverse academic offerings.
Crucially, the notion of eliminating university degrees, a topic that caused considerable anxiety within the community, is unequivocally off the table for Ms. Etri. She declared, “That’s absolutely not the case. Not a chance.” Instead of retrenchment, her vision includes expanding the university college’s educational provision, further enriching the opportunities available to students in the heart of Perthshire.
Beyond financial restructuring, Ms. Etri is committed to revitalizing the internal culture at UHI Perth. She openly admitted to staff feeling “negative” and “despondent” in the wake of the turbulent period the college endured. While refraining from direct criticism of Dr. Cook, Ms. Etri acknowledged the “very difficult circumstances” her predecessor had to navigate. These challenges included the abrupt insolvency of Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited (AST), a firm with a long-standing association with UHI Perth, responsible for training thousands of pilots and aircraft engineers. AST’s collapse in April left many students in an uncertain predicament.
Ms. Etri expressed profound disappointment over the AST situation but offered a firm guarantee: every single AST student will be provided with the opportunity to complete their course. This commitment involves a complex logistical operation, including arranging for students to be transferred to Humberside Academy, a solution achieved after extensive behind-the-scenes work. UHI Perth is dedicated to covering all associated travel and accommodation costs, ensuring that “what we signed them up to is what we will provide them.”
The previous finance chief, Mr. Stevenson, had criticized the broader funding model of the Highlands and Islands educational network, where institutions contribute funds to a central office, claiming it was “broken.” Ms. Etri indicated that changes are currently being implemented to streamline how funding operates, which could potentially lead to reduced costs for UHI Perth. When asked about further financial assistance from the central office, her response was pragmatic: “We would always want more money. I wouldn’t say no to more funding.”
As UHI Perth embarks on this recovery journey, Ms. Etri’s leadership signals a renewed focus on stability, student welfare, and a commitment to its diverse educational portfolio, all while addressing the underlying financial pressures head-on. The future of higher education in Perth and Kinross remains a critical component of the region’s development, and the community will be watching closely as this experienced leader guides the college towards a more secure and prosperous future.