Four new colleges have been created in Scotland as the result of the merger of 10 further education institutions.
The move has been hailed as a "major milestone" in the process of regionalisation which is bringing colleges in different parts of the country together.
Education Secretary Mike Russell said the shake-up will help to take "education in this country from good to great".
The four institutions created are Glasgow Clyde College, West College Scotland, Ayrshire College, and Fife College, each having its own principal and board of management.
Mr Russell said: "This is an exciting time for our college sector with students and employers reaping the benefits. The scale and influence of these new colleges, and the combined expertise on which they will be able to draw, will provide a real stimulus for economic growth.
"These changes build on colleges' strong record and the sector's pivotal role in delivering the Opportunities for All pledge to offer all 16 to 19-year-olds a place in education or training.
"The launch of these new colleges will play a central part in the Scottish Government's efforts to take education in this country from good to great.
"Today marks the culmination of enormous vision, dedication and hard work by the leaders, staff and students of the merging colleges and I want to pay tribute to the efforts of all involved."
John Henderson, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: "Colleges across Scotland have been working on mergers and the regionalisation project for almost two years now and today marks a major milestone.
"The new colleges will serve communities across Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Fife, Glasgow and Renfrewshire, providing invaluable services to their learners, employers and economies.
"Each of the colleges should be congratulated for completing these mergers while carrying on with business as usual."
Anniesland, Cardonald and Langside colleges have merged to become Glasgow Clyde College, while West College Scotland comprises Clydebank College, James Watt College's Inverclyde campus and Reid Kerr College in Paisley.
The new Ayrshire College is the result of a merger by Ayr College, Kilmarnock College and the Kilwinning and Largs campuses of James Watt College.
Fife College is formed out of Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, Carnegie College in Dunfermline and staff from the Elmwood campus of Scottish Rural University College in Cupar.
Mr Henderson said regionalisation "will be taken a further step forward by the end of the year with the creation of an additional four new colleges from mergers".
This will see Cumbernauld and Motherwell colleges become one, North Glasgow College will merge with the city's John Wheatley and Stow colleges, Aberdeen College will merge with Banff and Buchan College, and Angus College will merge with Dundee College.
The Scottish Funding Council, which distributes cash to colleges and universities, welcomed the mergers.
"These mergers are good news for students. They will have more choice, better opportunities to progress from college to university and will be better prepared for employment," according to interim chief executive Laurence Howells.
"The mergers simplify the college structure in Scotland, making it more efficient and one where its core focus is on the needs of learners and supporting local businesses and communities. This is an exciting time for all involved."
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