Former education minister calls university report 'weak' and questions department's confidence

Julie Edge says a lack of formal announcement suggests officials are not fully behind findings ruling out a new Manx university

An Onchan MHK has criticised a research paper from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture, which rules out the creation of an autonomous Manx university - describing the report as “weak”.

Instead, the department says it will continue exploring the expansion of higher education through University College Isle of Man.

Julie Edge says she only became aware of the paper recently, and believes the fact it wasn’t formally announced suggests a lack of confidence in its findings.

She thinks the department is displaying a lack of vision:

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture insists the development of UCM is the most logical and practical fit for the Isle of Man.

Speaking with Oliver Sykes, Minister Daphne Caine admitted more could be done to follow up with students who have left, and understand why: