Surviving the College Merger Patrick Cox, Learning Centres Manager

Geography & Profile WG Review of FE provision Flintshire Denbighshire Wrexham 8,000 FT 25,000 PT 1,600 staff FE WBL Professional

In the beginning… Deeside College – medium FE provider based in Flintshire Main focus – Engineering, Construction, Sport, Child Care

Merger Process Type 2 Merger – Phase 1 Welsh College of Horticulture LMS / Brown Issue Major Stock Revision Plan/Design New Build Staffing Increase

Merger Process Type 2 Merger – Phase 2 Coleg Llysfasi Time line 2009 WCoH 2011 Coleg Llysfasi

2013 Yale College Type 1 Merger – Phase 3 New name and branding Schedule of meetings prior to merger Learning Centre visits & ideas exchange Release of Management Structure

Release of New Management Structure! Move from Quality and Learner Support > IT and Library Services What’s in a name ? Learning Zone Learning CentreLibrary Study Centre LRC Library

Immediate Priorities for the Joint Library Service LMS - negotiation and identify potential issues (bar codes) site information, categories e-resources (inc JISC Collections) Athens & access arrangements Plan joint web platform Also…new Reprographics Contract, Print Control System, MIS etc etc….

Post merger – Thinking time and Planning Joint marketing – Implement and launch ITLS

Post merger – Thinking time and Planning Joint activities to encourage team work National Blood Transfusion Service - cross site promotion and coordination Health and Wellbeing events – with WG Health Library and Bangor University. Very well attended by curriculum

Post merger – Thinking time and Planning Joint activities to encourage team work SID 2014 – Major drive and significant opportunity to promote cross college approach. Activities planned at all sites with SID content, roll play video, pledge and survey

Further Joint Development Pilot new SAR format with Quality Manager Excellent Development Plan Clear Priorities and Actions Team working on joint ventures - Stock Selection & Acquisition E & D Team - Organising events per calendar month Marketing / Social Media team Joint training day planned for Admin week: Essential Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship for the 21 st Century Learning Professional

Sharing Information and Roles Chair of N Wales Library Training Group New Finance System – Individual Cost Centres New HR Systems Further Resource Development

Surviving the College Merger….Hints and Tips! Don’t expect all to fall into place at one Review and plan integration of e-resources If planning LMS – buy in the expertise and training – and allow time Select key areas for joint team working Develop Service SAR/Action Plan with target dates Maintain separate cost centres

Patrick Cox Learning Centres Manager