Funding streams
We are investing £545.5 million investment in Scotland's 41 colleges to develop skills, provide learning and support communities across Scotland.
We have prioritised our funding to help colleges respond to an increased demand for student support in the context of the current economic downturn. This brings the SFC investment in bursaries, childcare and discretionary funding to £95.6 million, a 14% increase on the previous year.
Funding allocations also include a significant increase in investment in colleges that are responding to help people who are at risk of redundancy.
We are continuing to provide funding to help colleges respond to the economic downturn, by continuing Partnership Action for Continued Employment (PACE) funding and providing support for rural colleges to respond to the economic downturn. This reinforces the efforts of Skills Development Scotland to provide services to individuals and businesses affected by the recession and recognises the crucial role that colleges are playing in their communities to support people through the economic downturn.
We will invest in courses that support the national PACE programme. This reinforces the efforts of Skills Development Scotland to provide services to individuals and businesses affected by the recession and recognises the crucial role that colleges are playing in their communities to support people through the economic downturn.
The overall investment of £545.5 million for 2011-12 represents a decrease of £35.3 million
(6%) on 2010-11. The SFC will provide £526.0 million through general funding and £18 million will be invested strategically to support Scotland's economic, educational, and social priorities.
The investment in general funding will support colleges' core teaching activities and infrastructure. A total of £421.0 million will be provided for teaching provision through general funding in 2011-12, an increase of £18.3 million from 2010-11.
The strategic funding will be invested in five areas:
- enhancing the employability of students, their individual skills and capacities, and their contribution to the economy and their communities, and using the expertise and skills of colleges to support local businesses, including through PACE programmes and Learning to Work Two – developing the Council’s employability strategy: consultation outcomes, action plan and invitation to develop proposals;
- widening access to college education and supporting students' progression from further to higher education;
- supporting a diverse range of colleges across Scotland capable of providing a broad choice of courses and learning programmes in their communities;
- developing sector-wide capacity, such as providing a range of relevant qualifications which meet the needs of learners, employers and the current and future needs of Scotland's economy; and
- supporting collaboration between colleges which leads to improved educational outcomes, an improved learning experience for students and other benefits.
The investment in general funding will support colleges' core teaching activities and infrastructure. A total of £402 million will be provided for teaching provision through general funding in 2009-10, an increase of £1 million from 2008-09.