Student numbers at Lochaber College could be set for a dramatic rise, thanks to a new partnership agreement which the Fort William-based institution has formed with Inverness College.

The agreement between the two colleges, backed by a combined cash injection of more than £400,000 from the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and Lochaber Enterprise, will result in many more subjects becoming available for local study over the next three years.

The move will help to raise skills levels in the Lochaber labour market, something the local enterprise company believes spells good news for businesses in the area.

In addition, Lochaber students will be able to gain local access to a growing number of higher education courses, delivered by distance learning on behalf of the UHI Millennium Institute. Current provision includes management studies, tourism, Gaelic, rural development, rural health, environment and heritage studies, business administration and cultural studies.

By 2004, the partners believe the expanded curriculum will help to increase the number of learners using Lochaber College by almost a third - from the present 1,750 up to 2,300.

Lochaber College was founded in 1996 and now runs outreach centres in Kilchoan, Kinlochleven and Mallaig.

The college differs from most other further education institutions in Scotland by choosing to act as a learning support specialist college.  This means it acts as a broker, buying in the academic and professional expertise of more than a dozen further education colleges, higher education institutions and training providers to meet local needs.

Dr. Graham Clark, Principal of Inverness College, said that the partnership strengthened links between the two institutions and would bridge a gap in further education provision in the West Highlands.

"Inverness College has run courses in Lochaber for almost a decade and we were one of the first institutions to become involved in Lochaber College when it began," said Dr. Clark.

"This formal agreement is the most exciting further education development for the area since the opening of the college itself.

"Expanding choice for the people of Lochaber will help to satisfy strong demand for local learning and the anticipated upsurge in student numbers should help put Lochaber College on a secure financial footing.''

According to Morven Cameron, head of skills development with Lochaber Enterprise, the investment looks set to reap substantial economic benefits for the area's business community as well.

"Lochaber used to be one of the Highlands' unemployment black spots, but in recent years the economy has been turned around," said Morven.  "We now enjoy the lowest unemployment rate we've ever known.  For most of the last year it's been as low as two per cent, which would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.

"The flip side of that coin, however, is that we're experiencing skills shortages in some areas and we know that some employers have found it difficult to fill vacancies. 

"Lochaber College is central to our plans to tackle this issue and we are delighted to be supporting this new initiative which will enable hundreds more local people to learn new skills and gain qualifications."

Dan Macleod, general manager of Lochaber College, said "Through our partnerships with Lochaber Enterprise, Inverness College and UHI Millennium Institute, we believe we can meet the needs of the communities of Lochaber much more effectively, offering inclusive lifelong learning opportunities on a far wider scale, benefiting the economic, social and cultural well-being of this area."