Skip sub-navigation
News digest
Weekly news summary 13 - 19 May
SFC mentions: Colleges “could lose millions” in law change
Scottish colleges could lose millions of pounds under a
change in the law that prevents them building up reserves. Currently as private
bodies, colleges can keep income generated from private sources but will no
longer be able to do this following a decision by the Office of National
Statistics (ONS) to reclassify colleges as full public bodies. From April next
year, colleges’ private reserves will be treated as public money and could be
clawed back by SFC. The Westminster and Welsh governments are expected to pass
legislation exempting colleges, but the Scottish Government has decided against
a similar move.
The Herald
SFC mentions: Stratified medicine one of three new Innovation
Centres
SFC is providing £8 million over five years to the
University of Glasgow for its £20 million Stratified Medicine Scotland
Innovation Centre (SMS-IC) at the South Glasgow Hospitals campus. The SMS-IC is
one of three Innovation Centres officially announced last month by the First
Minister. Stratified medicine involves examining the genetic makeup of patients
and their differing responses to drugs designed to treat specific diseases,
leading to more personalised and effective treatment.
Holyrood
SFC mentions: Power research centre opened
First Minister Alex Salmond officially opened the Power
Networks Demonstration Centre in Cumbernauld – a grid research centre that will
explore how technology can shape the low-carbon power industry. A joint venture
between the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Power, SSE, Scottish Enterprise
and SFC, the centre is part of the Scottish Smart Grid Strategy launched last
year.
The Times, The Herald, The Scotsman, Press and Journal,
Glasgow Evening Times
SFC mentions: Glasgow college merger “a success”
The merger of three Glasgow colleges to form City of Glasgow
College has been a success, according to a report by SFC. The merger has saved
approximately £7.4 million and has led to a wider range of courses, new subjects
and improved staff development.
Metro, The Herald, The Scotsman, Daily Record