Principal laments "lost" students
19 October 2009
Principal David James told an audience of students and their families at the College's annual awards ceremony in October that he had been forced to turn away hundreds of potential students, because Oatridge was excluded when £28 million inextra funding was handed out to the Further Education sector to help young people get education and training during the recession.
Mr James said despite the fact that the landbased industries are facing a desperate shortfall of 22,000 workers between now and 2017, none of Scotland's Rural Colleges or any preparing recruits for the sector received any of the Scottish Government cash. He said he was frustrated by the failure in some areas to recognise the important role the landbased industries play in the Scottish economy.
Had additional funding come Oatridge's way, 300 extra student places could have been filled, he said.