Photos: UHI Perth, Forth Valley College, Dundee and Angus College
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has announced its indicative funding allocations for the next academic year.
Based on the education and skills provision announced in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, today’s allocations will maximise opportunities for learners and support for colleges and universities at a time of financial restraint.
The college sector in Scotland will see a significant 8% increase to the funding allocated for teaching in 2026-27. The rise represents a £42.5 million uplift compared with the current year’s allocation. The money colleges will receive for the ongoing maintenance of their campuses and infrastructure will remain the same year-on-year at £32 million. However, an extra £8.2 million will be made available for colleges’ high priority needs, bringing the total to £10.7 million in this area of funding.
Scotland’s universities and their students will benefit from a 3.3% (23.7 million) increase in the funding allocated for teaching activities. Researchers and those working to transform discovery into innovations for society and the economy will see a 26.8 million (just over 8%) rise in their funding for 2026-27.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges and universities play a vital role in Scotland’s economy, creating the skills, knowledge and innovations needed for our future prosperity and well-being. They are also transformative in the lives of the people who learn and work in them.
“The uplift in college and university funding announced in the Budget has allowed us to allocate funding that maximises opportunities for learners and supports institutions to continue delivering world-leading research and ground-breaking innovation.”
Full details of the indicative funding allocations for Scotland’s colleges and universities can be found on the SFC website.
Photo: University of Glasgow
Reducing the effect of ships crossing our oceans, improving the health of crops growing in our fields, and finding greener ways to construct and demolish buildings are amongst the challenges that could be ultimately in line for almost €113 million of European research funding.
Their chances of attracting major backing have been boosted here in Scotland by a landmark scheme that brings together research talent from across Europe to forge relationships and create paths to funding with an estimated value to Scottish universities of £47.5 million.
The scheme is financed by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) in association with the Scottish Government. By fostering partnerships, an increasingly important consideration for major funding providers, those qualifying to take part in the scheme could enjoy significant advantages in future grant applications.
Amongst the 19 projects to receive support from the International Collaboration Fund (ICF) are a number of potentially game-changing medical research proposals. They include research into liver disease, developing the next generation of diagnostic technology, and AI-assisted treatments for cardiovascular conditions.
Expanding the science behind the detection of gravitational waves is the subject of another ambitious collaboration to receive an ICF award. The partnership is between the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and three Scottish universities.
Higher Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“Scotland is an outward-looking nation, and our relationships with European partners are central to that.
“These research partnerships demonstrate the strength of what we can achieve through collaboration – from advancing medical knowledge to tackling the climate emergency.
“The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening global connections through research and knowledge exchange, as outlined in Scotland’s International Education Strategy, and this scheme is a clear example of that commitment in action. By forging lasting partnerships across Europe, we are positioning Scotland as a world leader in research and ensuring our universities can compete for the significant funding opportunities that lie ahead.”
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“This fantastic initiative that has clear benefits for Scottish universities. Its value also lies in encouraging European research collaborations that could increase medical knowledge, combat the climate emergency and advance new discoveries in space.
“I’m proud that the Scottish Funding Council has been able to support the scheme and look forward to seeing the partnerships it has created becoming fully developed, well-funded international research projects.”
Dr Tim Storer, SICSA Director, said:
“The International Collaboration Fund is a hugely valuable mechanism for driving research engagement with our European partners and leveraging European Research Council Funding.
“It enables early career researchers from across all disciplines to put rocket boosters under emerging research proposals and drive them forward. These partnerships are often with large and complex European collaborations, where sustained face-to-face engagement is critical to success.
“The entire research community has responded enthusiastically to this excellent scheme and, on behalf of Research Innovation Scotland, we were delighted with the depth and breadth of high-quality proposals from across institutions and disciplines. Funding opportunities like ICF are transformative, invaluable and increasingly scarce for researchers in a very competitive landscape.”
Photo: City of Glasgow College, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Aberdeen, UHI Moray, University of the Highland and Islands.
As a result of £21 million of new, targeted investment in colleges and skills, families at risk of poverty will receive additional support to train, to help them enter stable, well-paid work or progress in their career.
The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan includes £9 million for a Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) Fund, which will give parents and carers practical help to build new skills – offering training they can fit around family life, along with essential support with childcare, travel, and study costs.
A £2 million Training Access Fund will support working adult learners most at risk of poverty to access skills training, to give them the chance to earn more and build a stable career.
A new £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund will aim to incentivise businesses to offer training opportunities to parents earning low incomes in a way that meets employer needs while helping working parents and carers increase their earning potential and progress in their careers.
Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“We are committed to making sure that education and training works for everyone, especially those who need it most, as part of our wider efforts to eradicate poverty in Scotland.
“Every person deserves opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their household. This £21 million package of targeted investment in skills will help remove barriers to training, such as childcare and transport costs, which can too often stand between parents and the skills that they need to get on in work.”
Jacqui Brasted, Scottish Funding Council Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, said:
“Every child should have the opportunity to flourish. Scotland’s colleges can play a vital role in transforming lives by providing a lasting route out of poverty. They offer access to the skills and education needed to support families enter, remain and progress in work.
“We are delighted to be working with Colleges Scotland to ensure that the welcome funding provided by the Scottish Government is targeted where it is needed most.”
Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:
“Colleges are strong community anchors across the country, and the funding pledged kick starts a range of ways that colleges can accelerate and expand programmes that support people to leave poverty.
“The investment into more anti-poverty programmes is welcome recognition of the huge part that colleges play in making people’s lives better.
“Colleges are an opportunity that works, serving learners from some of Scotland’s most deprived communities and are a driving force for social good in every part of the country.”
© Stewart Attwood Photography 2026.
The annual Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards took place yesterday (19 March) at the University of Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre. The Awards, now in their 11th year are organised by SFC-funded Interface.
Guests at yesterday’s ceremony celebrated transformative collaborations between Scottish businesses and academics from universities and colleges.
The role Scottish universities play in tackling the climate emergency was recognised with the environmental difference award going to a collaboration to decarbonise the production of precast concrete. Meanwhile, James Jamieson from South Lanarkshire College was the 2026 Knowledge Exchange Champion for his work to promote the expansion of future-proof skills for industry.
The awards also shone a spotlight on the work of Scotland’s innovation centres. The DHI sponsored award for research and innovation in digital health and social care was awarded to a partnership between the University of Edinburgh and a community interest company that supports neurodivergent children. The Data Lab sponsored award for trailblazing AI collaborating went to Red Star AI Ltd and the University of Dundee for an innovation that could prove transformative for patients suffering heart failure.
Full details of last night’s winners and reflections on the 2026 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards from the Director of Interface and SFC’s Director of Investment and Research can be found on the Interface website.
Photo: Forth Valley College
The Minister for Higher and Further Education, Ben Macpherson, has announced additional Scottish Government funding to help lay the foundations for the long-term modernisation Scotland’s college campuses.
The announcement came during the Minister’s visit to Dundee and Angus College which has an ambitious 10-year plan for new and expanded campuses in its region.
The initial investment, worth around £2 million, will allow nine colleges to create the detailed plans needed ahead of future major building projects being considered for funding approval. It represents the latest step forward in the national College Infrastructure Investment Programme led by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The programme has already seen the development of the first ever database for the whole Scottish college estate and will result in a nationwide plan for strategic investment in the country’s college campuses.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that Scotland’s colleges play in our economy and wider society, and that’s why we’re committed to working closely with the sector to ensure a successful and sustainable future.
“We fully support the work the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is leading with the sector to explore its infrastructure needs and develop a strategic plan, to ensure Scotland has the learning environments needed both now and in the future.
“That’s why we have made additional funding available, which supports SFC with this ‘first wave’ of infrastructure development support, including for Dundee and Angus College.”
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“SFC’s long-term ambition is for college campuses that are high quality, smart and sustainable places to learn, and which support the best possible outcomes for people, society and Scotland’s future economy.
“We have been working hard with colleges across Scotland to be in a position to start making this happen, and I am delighted to see this significant step forward.”
The nine Scottish colleges receiving funding under today’s announcement are Ayrshire College; Borders College; Dundee and Angus College; Dumfries and Galloway College; Forth Valley College; North East Scotland College; UHI Moray; West College Scotland; and UHI Inverness.
The Scottish Funding Council is currently working on the allocation of the first wave of funding and further details will be announced shortly.
Photos: Forth Valley College, UHI Inverness, UHI Perth and West Lothian College
Colleges Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government have today announced the launch of an evidence-based future-proofing exercise to shape colleges for the next generation, and ensure they are a first-choice for future learners.
The College Sector of the Future workstream will result in a co-designed set of actions that seek to deliver a college system that is more equitable, future-proofed, empowering and financially sustainable, and which allows colleges to continue to serve as anchor institutions in communities across Scotland.
Higher and Further Education Minister, Ben Macpherson, said:
“Colleges are impactful, anchor institutions in our communities and are key to both reducing poverty and growing our economy. Whether it is school leavers starting a career, people returning to education after some time out, or employees gaining new skills and retraining, a thriving college sector is vital for our shared prosperity and collective wellbeing, as well as for enabling individual learning and success.
“The importance and impact of colleges is likely to become even more significant, as we navigate the changing needs of the economy, rapid technological advancement, social change, and the transition to Net Zero, which is why the Scottish Government welcomes the launch of the College Sector of the Future workstream.
“In a collaborative way, this workstream will help to secure the future of Scotland’s colleges and ensure that they appropriately evolve and adapt to continue to serve learners and meet the needs of employers and communities across Scotland. In the years and decades ahead, together we must make sure that our college sector is ready and able to respond to the various challenges we face and to make the most of new, exciting opportunities.”
Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland, said:
“Colleges already sit at the heart of Scotland’s economic and anti-poverty ambitions. As Scotland navigates the Just Transition to Net Zero and changing career patterns, all while driving down child poverty, that role becomes even more vital.
“The financial situation facing colleges in recent years is well known, but less so is the opportunity at the start of the second quarter of this century to fundamentally re-look at what a sustainable college sector could be.“Colleges are pleased to be working collaboratively with the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government to deliver a once-in-a-generation set of agreed ambitions that will help sustain the college sector over the longer term, and ensure they are the first-choice for learners seeking to upskill and reskill themselves.”
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges play a vital role in delivering for Scotland. However, the challenging financial environment, and demand for learning to access new knowledge, skills and careers, mean we need to consider how colleges can meet future skills needs and remain at the cornerstone of Scotland’s economic and social wellbeing.
“We are delighted to be working collaboratively with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Government to design a programme of transformational change which will lead to better outcomes for learners, employers, communities, and regional economies.”
The College Sector of the Future workstream builds on the findings of the Withers Review and the transformation delivered through regionalisation under the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013.
It will be co-designed and co-delivered between the college sector, the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, with all political parties invited to support the process alongside experts and stakeholders.
The project will be:
- Outcomes-focussed: so that leaners, employers and communities now and in the future are able to access world-class colleges for the intrinsic value of education, as pathways to further education and employment, and as places of shelter and support.
- Place-based and locally responsive: recognising the unique role colleges play in their communities and support regional economic and social development, including poverty alleviation.
- Fair Work First: recognising that Fair Work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, organisations and society and that colleges are fair work employers.
- Evidence-based and creative: using the combined analytical and creative capabilities of the parties and stakeholders, the project will provide robust evidential underpinning for creative, innovative options, and their assessment.
Structured around three pillars the work will: firstly synthesise existing evidence on learner, employer and community needs; secondly consider the future role and priorities for colleges, identifying barriers and enablers; and thirdly co-create sustainable, flexible funding framework options.
National and regional workshops will bring together college leaders, learners, trade unions, employers, including SMEs, anti-poverty organisations and wider third sector organisations, and public sector partners to address fundamental questions about lifelong learner journeys, employer collaboration, system agility and sustainable funding.
Recommendations will be jointly presented to ministers by winter 2026.
Photo: University of Dundee
Today, the Scottish Safe Haven Network (SSHN) becomes the newest recipient of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Research and Innovation Shared Services Collaboration Fund.
Established by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office and now supported by Research Data Scotland, the Scottish Safe Haven Network connects the organisations behind Scotland’s secure data infrastructure. The SSHN becomes the fifth recipient of the fund following last year’s announcement receiving just under £230,000 from SFC.
The project is led by the University of Edinburgh, working with the University of Dundee and Research Data Scotland. It aims to create a shared services model for accessing data for research in line with the Scottish Government’s strategy for health and social care.
By making Scotland a more attractive proposition for inward investment from UK Research and Innovation, charities and industry, the initiative will also help to improve the financial sustainability of Scottish universities.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The world-leading research undertaken in Scotland plays a key role in addressing a number of social, economic and environmental challenges both locally and internationally.
“The Scottish Safe Haven Network is an example of this work, and the investment provided through the Fund will make it easier for researchers to access vital health and social care data. This will help accelerate medical research that can improve treatments, services and outcomes for people across Scotland.”
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our Shared Services Collaboration Fund is a new way of supporting Scottish universities to work together for efficiency and sustainability.
Streamlining the flow of information between partners within the Safe Haven Network will bring real and tangible benefits for medical research in Scotland”
“It’s great to be able to support such close and pioneering collaborations and I look forward to seeing the project progress.”
Kathy Harrison, DataLoch Programme Lead, University of Edinburgh, said:
“We are delighted to secure this funding, which will allow us to jointly work towards a single application process for researchers seeking detailed, de-identified health data from across Scotland. Once complete, this project will greatly reduce duplication of effort while retaining high standards of data security.”
Photos: Dundee and Angus College, University of Aberdeen, West Lothian College and BE-ST.
A new report from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) shows a growth in the number of enrolments on college courses of students aged between 14 and 21. The increase was largely driven by more enrolments of 16 year olds.
The College Statistics Report draws on newly collected data trends from the past decade and presents a broad picture of college education since 2015-16.
The latest study covers the academic year 2024-2025 and shows more than 2,500 additional enrolments of 16 year olds compared with the previous year. This follows a strategic move for colleges to focus on senior phase students (S4 – S6) and offer more opportunities for their vocational learning. Elsewhere there has been a reduction in enrolments, with most of the change being in part time courses.
Today’s report confirms that the college sector in Scotland once again met the Scottish Funding Council’s target for learning and teaching activity, with 100% of the required places being filled across the country’s 24 colleges. The sector’s target itself has been fine-tuned since 2023 to better reflect anticipated needs. At the same time SFC has maintained its level of funding, resulting in an increase in the price paid for each college place.
For the first time since 2016-17 the number of enrolments by male students on a further education course outnumbers enrolments for female students. For college course enrolments overall the male to female ratio balanced out at 51% male to 49% female.
The College Statistics Report also looks at the subject areas selected by students in a given year. The areas of study that have become more popular over the last decade include those related to construction where there is an increasing demand for more skilled workers.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Reports like today’s are important because they support the responsive and agile decision-making needed in the challenging environment in which colleges and businesses now operate. They also support our ambition to equip people for the changing world of work through funding clear pathways to learning and development.
“I’m really pleased to again see confirmation of the sector’s 100% delivery against the activity target and to see evidence of effective forward planning in the sector.”
College Statistics 2024-25 is now available on the SFC website.
Photos: University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, University of St. Andrews
New figures released today by the university admissions service, UCAS, show an all-time high number of Scottish school leavers applying to study at university. This year’s figure of 22,360 applicants aged 18 or under is up by four percent on last year.
For all Scots looking to start a degree later in 2026, applicants have increased for the third year in a row. Overall applicant figures for Scottish universities shows that, taking into account the unprecedented pressure on places during the COVID 19 pandemic, demand continues to grow. This year’s figure of 123,170 reflects a year on year increase of 2%.
The UCAS data also contains good news for Scotland’s long running commitment to fair access to higher education. At 17.5% a record proportion of applicants living in Scotland and applying to study at university here are from the most deprived areas of the country. Students in this group are also applying in greater numbers to universities in the rest of the UK with a 4% increase from last year’s total.
Also in today’s figures is an indication that demand for degree qualifications in both nursing and midwifery is recovering. However, the number of applicants for teacher training has seen a fall of 6%.
New from UCAS for 2026 is data about applicants intentions about whether or not to live at home as they study for their undergraduate degree. The indications are that the current high cost of living is encouraging more students to study from home.
Today’s UCAS figures show applications up until the 14 January deadline. UCAS will publish updated figures at key points in the 2026 application cycle including when Scottish exam results become available in early August.
Photo: University of Glasgow
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has published the report of its Targeted Peer Review (TPR) of the University of Glasgow in response to a Concern raised to the Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The Concern was submitted on the basis of maintenance of academic standards and the potential for systemic failure in following the university’s assessment regulations. It was submitted after an internal investigation by the University following the death of a student, although the focus of the Concern (and the subsequent TPR) was on the broader potential for systemic issues at the University rather than the specifics of that case, which are outwith SFC’s remit.
In responding to the report published by QAA Scotland, Jacqui Brasted, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, said:
“The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) thanks QAA Scotland for conducting such a thorough and robust investigation following concerns we raised under the Scottish Quality Concerns Scheme regarding the maintenance of academic standards and assessment regulations at the University of Glasgow.
“The findings of this report are deeply concerning. We have a statutory duty to secure the provision of high-quality education across the colleges and universities we fund. We will therefore be working closely with QAA Scotland and the University of Glasgow to ensure that the recommendations outlined in this report are implemented as a matter of urgency.
“Given the serious nature of these findings, we are also commissioning QAA to conduct a national review of the assessment and associated policies and procedures across the sector to enhance the assurance we already receive regarding academic standards and the quality of the student experience.”
Photos: Edinburgh College, UHI Perth, Glasgow Clyde College.
The Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill successfully passed the final stage of the legislative process last night (Tuesday 20 January). It will now progress to becoming an Act.
As a result of this legislation, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will become responsible for the funding of all post-16 education and training provision, taking on funding of apprenticeships and national training programmes alongside college and university provision as well as the funding of research and innovation.
The Bill will also introduce changes to SFC’s governance, with the introduction of a new Apprenticeship Committee and additional specification of what areas of expertise and experience Ministers should consider when appointing Board members.
In addition, SFC will be granted a number of new duties including:
- To have regard to supporting the interests of learners, to supporting knowledge exchange and innovation, and to promoting fair work principles.
- To attach additional conditions of funding, including that institutions take action on gender-based violence; that they have a whistleblowing and a conflict of interest policy; and that they engage with trade unions, students and external partners when making particular significant decisions.
- To monitor the financial sustainability of institutions and a new power to arrange for an independent examination into the financial sustainability or financial governance of an institution.
- To report annually on the financial sustainability of the sectors and on the performance of those involved in delivering apprenticeships, work-based learning and national training programmes.
Commenting on the passing of the Bill, SFC Chief Executive, Francesca Osowska, said:
“We welcome the passing of the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill. Having funding for all post-16 provision in one funding body will enable us to be more agile, responsive and flexible to better meet the needs of learners, employers and the wider Scottish economy.
“Our focus over the coming months will be on redesigning the new funding body, building on strong foundations across SFC and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), to ensure a smooth transition and a seamless transfer of functions. We look forward to working with all our stakeholders, including new colleagues we will welcome from SDS, as we move through this process.
“Enhanced governance and new duties will also support us as we work together to develop a post-16 education, training and skills funding body that supports Scotland’s economic wellbeing. We will work closely with all our stakeholders as we implement the new provisions set out in the Bill.”
SFC’s Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes presents the Lecturer of the Year Award to Marion Darling from West Lothian College
Over 300 people gathered in Glasgow yesterday evening to celebrate the achievements of colleges, their staff, and learners in the 2025 CDN College Awards.
The annual awards, now in their 26th year, honour extraordinary contributions in all areas of colleges’ work, from skills development to innovation and inclusive learning to community engagement.
The Scottish Funding Council was proud to sponsor the Lecturer of the Year Award. SFC’s Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, Jacqui Brasted, presented the award to Marion Darling from West Lothian College.
The judges praised Marion for her work in transforming Care education at the College. Marion’s work has included championing Mental Health First Aid training to equip students with lifesaving skills and emotional intelligence
This year’s awards were attended by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Ben Macpherson and the Master of Ceremonies was television and radio presenter Amy Irons.
The full list of winners is now available on the CDN website.
The recipients of a new stream of Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funding have been announced today.
Efficiency initiatives led by Heriot-Watt University, Queen Margaret University, Glasgow Caledonian University, and the University of Dundee will be supported by SFC’s Shared Services Collaboration Fund.
The four institutions were amongst the ten universities from across Scotland that responded to a call for proposals issued earlier this year.
The successful proposal from Heriot-Watt University is an umbrella project that will see it joining up with eleven other Scottish universities to build institutional capacity to effectively respond to risks to UK research and innovation from hostile state actors and in line with changes to legislation. The partners will work together to develop a digital toolkit to support universities to implement good practice in trusted research and secure innovation.
The project led by Queen Margaret University involves five other institutions. They will work together to develop, test and evaluate a sustainable model for a shared Commercialisation and Knowledge Exchange Service.
Glasgow Caledonian University will partner with the University of Glasgow to create The Innovation3 Exchange, a new shared function to enhance the two universities’ capacity for entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialisation.
The University of Dundee-led initiative will include NHS Forth Valley, Forth Valley College, the James Hutton Institute and the Tay-Forth Catalyst alongside the Universities of St Andrews and Stirling. Together, they will create a pioneering commercialisation ecosystem across the whole of the Tay-Forth region.
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our Shared Services Collaboration Fund is a new way of supporting Scottish universities to work together for efficiency and sustainability.
“The Fund has been specially created to address the challenges of the current difficult financial climate, and the response from universities has clearly demonstrated the sector’s capacity for collaboration and innovation.
“The four projects receiving funding today all have the potential to make a real difference, and I look forward to following their progress towards success.”
Full details of today’s announcement can be found on the SFC website.
Kate Halsey from New College Lanarkshire won a gold medal at the 2025 WorldSkills Finals in South Wales
Scotland was once again well represented in the WorldSkills UK National Finals which took place last week in venues across South Wales. No fewer than 31 Scottish apprentices competed in 15 different disciplines, including digital construction where Scotland has historically done exceptionally well.
Representation in cyber security, renewable energy and 3D Digital Game Art reflected the changing face of skills provision alongside more traditional skills in areas like health and social care, electrical installation and heavy vehicle technology.
When the results came in, finalists representing Scotland were successful across the full spectrum of medals, winning four golds, three silver and three bronze. It was another exceptional year for New College Lanarkshire which came joint second in the institutional medal table.
In the Foundation Skill competitions designed for students who have a statement of Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities, Kate Halsey from New College Lanarkshire won a gold medal in the Health and Social Care category.
In the mainstream competitions Peter Heggie from New College Lanarkshire won gold in Digital Construction. In the same category Adam Lyon from Glasgow Caledonian University won silver and Andrew Dearie from New College Lanarkshire won bronze. Ellis Stevenson from the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) was the gold medallist in Electrical Installation and Adam Souter, also from SECTT won silver. Also taking home a silver medal was Michael Till from North East Scotland College. Michael’s medal was for Network Infrastructure Technician.
The gold medal in the Mechanical Engineering: CAD category went to Callum Patience from New College Lanarkshire. Scotland’s other bronze medallists were Glasgow Kelvin College’s Craig Gow in the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps category, and Abby Ward from New College Lanarkshire in Health and Social Care.
Full details of the 2025 WorldSkills UK National Finals can be found on the WorldSkills UK website.
The André Reibig Medal for 2025 has been awarded by Winning Students 100 to the remarkable Scottish student swimmer, Archie Goodburn.
The medal is presented in memory of SFC’s André Reibig who played a vital role in establishing and developing the highly successful Winning Students programme (now known as Winning Students 100).
The award celebrates a student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional resilience, sporting excellence, and academic commitment. University of Edinburgh swimmer, Archie Goodburn, has embodied all these values, excelling in his sport as well as academically.
As well as securing his place to represent Great Britain at the 2025 World University Games, Archie was selected as a UK finalist for the Young Engineers Award for Innovation and Sustainability, and he played a leadership role in a successful Chemical Engineering Design Project.
Archie’s accomplishments are made even more remarkable by the fact that he competed for Great Britain at the World Short Course Championships in December 2024 while undergoing treatment for a rare form of brain cancer. His perseverance and positive attitude have made him an inspirational figure within his university community.
Archie Goodburn said:
“Receiving the André Reibig Medal means a huge amount to me. André stood for giving athletes the chance to chase their ambitions in sport and education equally, and that’s something I’ve tried to live by.
“I’m hugely grateful for the invaluable support from Winning Students 100, and this recognition motivates me even more as I build towards the Commonwealth Games next summer.”
Jacqui Brasted, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“André was the driving force behind the Scottish Funding Council’s support for Winning Students when the programme began in 2008. He was passionate about sport as a positive force for people and communities, and the values behind the André Reibig Medal were really important to him.
“He would have been delighted in the choice of Archie as an athlete and as a young person who embodies those values. Archie’s achievements in swimming and in his studies have been remarkable, and we wish him the very best in achieving his Commonwealth Games ambitions.”
Winning Students 100 Advisory Board Member, Ciaran O’Brien, said:
“The André Reibig Memorial Medal was created to recognise student athletes who not only achieve greatness but also inspire those around them through their character and resilience. Archie Goodburn perfectly embodies these qualities.
“His ability to compete at the highest level while facing immense personal challenges and maintaining his academic excellence is truly extraordinary. He is an inspiration to us all and a deserving recipient of the honour.”
Archie is the second recipient of the medal – the inaugural honour was awarded to Paralympic gold medallist Faye Rogers in 2024.
More details about the 2025 André Reibig Medal are available on the Winning Students website.
Photo courtesy of Winning Students 100.
Photo: University of Glasgow
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has launched a consultation on two of its core research and innovation funding grants.
SFC’s Research Postgraduate Grant supports universities to invest in a positive, inclusive and collaborative environment for research training and development. It also helps Scottish universities secure a pipeline of skilled postgraduate researchers, and support their individual development in ways that also benefit academia, industry and society.
The SFC/ DSIT Higher Education Research Capital grant contributes to universities’ capital investment in research infrastructure. It is used across the sector in various ways including contributing towards new buildings; refurbishment of facilities; and investment in cutting edge scientific equipment.
The consultation is part of the Scottish Funding Council’s regular review of policies. Respondents are being asked to consider a set of questions developed with a short life expert working group with membership drawn from SFC’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and sector experts. The review explores potential changes to the allocation models of both grants to ensure they are fit for purpose. Purpose and principles of the grants and quantum of funding are out of scope for review.
Speaking about the consultation, Helen Cross, SFC’s Director of Research and Innovation, said;
“We welcome and value comments from stakeholders and anyone with an interest in the issues raised in the consultation documents published today. We particularly encourage responses from individual universities.”
“We’re acutely aware of the financial challenges currently being experienced within higher education. Only those changes with a clear rationale for improvement and support from universities will be taken forward. As part of the consultation we are also asking respondents to comment on potential mitigation of any changes.”
The consultation documents are now available on the SFC website. The closing date for submissions is noon 13 January 2026.
SFC will be holding two online drop-in sessions to discuss the consultation as well as sessions with sector bodies. Further details are available here SFC HERC/RPG Consultation drop in sessions.
Photo: EAUC / Jas Sansi
The 2025 Green Gown Awards ceremony for the UK and Northern Ireland took place yesterday evening at the Library of Birmingham.
The Awards, established 21 years ago, celebrate the very best of tertiary education’s work to tackle the climate emergency. Yesterday’s event was attended by over 350 people eager to support the finalists and celebrate the winning entries from among the 112 shortlisted applicants.
There were four Scottish winners announced at this year’s ceremony and one highly commended finalist.
Glasgow Kelvin College won the category award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Sustainability. Its Cycling for All project includes a confidence course for students who require learning support due to disability. The College’s ultimate goal is for a ‘just transition’ where all students, regardless of background or ability, have the same access to sustainable opportunities.
For its Sustainable Marcomms project, the University of Edinburgh, winner of the Tomorrow’s Employees award, provided over 300 staff with a basic introduction to sustainability in marketing and communications. A further 18 employees received advanced training to become advocates for long-term change.
The University of St Andrews carried away the Nature Positive trophy for its ambitious project to improve ecological integrity along 16 kilometres of the Fife coastline. Over 15 months, more than 400 students, staff and community volunteers took part in conservation opportunities and training sessions.
Fife College won the Next Generation Learning and Skills category for its partnership role in a ground-breaking Community Retrofit and Heating Innovation project. The initiative offered a two-day “Domestic Retrofit in Practice” course to residents and workers across Fife.
Queen Margaret University was highly commended in the Benefitting Society category for its on-campus Outdoor Learning Hub. The Hub includes a discovery trail, howff and small forest area designed to enrich students’ experience and contribute to sustainability, health and wellbeing.
Martin Farley, UKRI Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability Programme, said:
“The 112 finalists this year demonstrate the real impact that educational institutions can have in driving environmental innovation and creating positive change. These awards highlight the creativity and commitment of those who are leading by example.”
Full information about all the finalists and winners at the 2025 Green Gown Awards is available on the Green Gown website.
Photo: Jeff Holmes
The Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, has announced its 2025-26 cohort, marking a record-breaking year for applications and reaffirming its status as a world-leading dual-career programme.
This year’s intake will see 106 student athletes supported as they pursue excellence in both sport and academia. Spanning 31 sports and 18 further and higher education institutions, this year’s in-take of athletes represent the brightest of young sporting talent based in Scotland.
The scholarship is funded by the Scottish Funding Council, sportscotland, and Scotland’s higher education and further education sector and managed by Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, the University of Stirling.
Winning Students was established with Scottish Funding Council funding in 2008 and saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase. Well known athletes who have benefited from the scheme include Olympic medallists Laura Muir, Duncan Scott, Vicky Wright and Seonaid McIntosh.
Several of this year’s athletes have represented Team Scotland and Team GB at the highest level, with many setting their sights on the world stage, with aspirations to compete at the likes of the Winter Paralympic and Olympic Games and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Among them are athletics star Megan Keith, who has been named as part of Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026, artistic gymnastics talent Cameron Lynn, Edinburgh-based swimmer Archie Goodburn, ice hockey player Ruby Newlands and Dumfries and Galloway College curler Logan Carson and Paralympic swimmer Toni Shaw.
Designed to empower Scotland’s most promising sporting talent to excel both academically and athletically, the prestigious Winning Students 100 programme provides athletes with grants of up to £3,000.
The programme works with colleges and universities to offer additional support such as academic flexibility, ensuring student athletes can balance the demands of high-performance training, international competition and rigorous academic schedules.
Winning Students 100 also has a dedicated hardship fund, which provides additional support to student athletes from areas of higher deprivation, making athletic opportunities more accessible to more people.
Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said: “Winning Students 100 is a bold and forward-thinking investment in the future of Scottish sport and education. The programme positions Scotland as a true pioneer, delivering a comprehensive support system that empowers athletes to achieve their full potential.
“The programme is about cultivating well-rounded leaders who are prepared for success in all aspects of their life. This year’s record-breaking applications highlight the programme’s reputation as a world leader in dual-career support, and we are proud to champion these exceptional individuals.
“This dual focus on academic and sporting excellence has made Winning Students 100 a powerful platform for success. By working closely with sportscotland, the Scottish Funding Council, partner institutions, and national governing bodies, we ensure that the programme continues to deliver value to students, parents, institutions, and funders alike. Together, we are shaping the future of Scottish sport and education.”
Artistic gymnast Cameron Lynn, who studies Sport Business Management at the University of Stirling, said: “Winning Students 100 is a massive help in terms of my studies, my training and performance. This next year is very important leading up to the Commonwealth Games, as it is a home Games, and I’m really looking forward to competing for my country if I’m selected. Being a Winning Students 100 scholar helps me massively in my preparations for the Games and allows me to perform and study to the best of my abilities.”
For more information about Winning Students 100 and the 2025-26 cohort, visit www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk
SFC’s Chief Operating Officer, Martin Boyle (third from right), on a visit to Fife College during the construction of the new campus
Scotland’s first net-zero-ready tertiary education building opened its doors to students for the very first time today.
The new Dunfermline City building at Fife College is a modern, flexible and low carbon facility. It forms part of the £200 million Dunfermline Learning Campus, a 60 acre site that also includes Woodmill and St Columba’s high schools.
Ahead of its opening, College Principal, Jim Metcalfe, described the new campus as “an incredible investment by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council.”
Every element of the new campus has been carefully designed to support innovation and sustainability and to create an inspiring environment for learners both now and in the future.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“As Scotland’s tertiary education funding body, we’re committed to making it as easy as possible to navigate the pathways between school, college and university.
“The Dunfermline Learning Campus will be unique in its ability to support people as they develop their potential from secondary school onwards, and go on to contribute to society and the economy.
“The campus will also be at the forefront of exciting changes around where and how people learn, and will become a fantastic asset to the Fife region.”
The first ever national plan for strategic investment in Scotland’s college campuses moved a step closer yesterday with the official launch of the next phase of the College Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Designed for the future, the College Infrastructure Investment Plan will review trends in digital learning and net zero as well as the use of built assets.
The launch was marked by a workshop at the Stirling headquarters of Colleges Scotland. Delegates from colleges from across the country gathered to learn more about the next phase of activities which are due for completion in autumn 2026.
During the successful first stage of work, a vital milestone was achieved through the building of a pioneering new database of the complete Scottish college estate.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our ambition is for college campuses that are high quality, smart and sustainable places to learn, and that support the best outcomes for people, society and Scotland’s future economy.
“The launch of the next phase of the College Infrastructure Investment Plan represents a major milestone in our progress towards that ambition.
“It also marks the continuation of the close partnerships we have built with college estates teams, and I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to support us during the first stage of the programme.”
The next steps will see the Scottish Funding Council working with colleges and organisations such as the Scottish Futures Trust, the Environmental Association of Colleges and Jisc, the tertiary education technology and data experts, to further advance the investment plan.