Education chiefs are not planning to centralise any more of their services at University College Isle of Man.

The idea was raised in the House of Keys last week by Julie Edge (Onchan).

But Education Minister Graham Cregeen said that as part of government’s SAVE programme to cut spending, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture had sought ’interest from higher education providers who would be interested in working in partnership with the department to consolidate and expand higher education provision on-island’.

But he added: ’Currently the department is not considering centralising any of its services to the University College Isle of Man.’

He said services had been transferred to the DSEC that were based at the college were already there. Ms Edge said she could not find a strategic plan for the college.

The minister said: ’We already have a partner in Chester University working with us, is to see what other interest is out there, how we can expand services for students on-island - put some extra courses on here which will benefit our island and our economy, and give students the opportunity to study here.’