SFC news published since 2018. See SFC archived content for earlier news articles.
Photo: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI
A new report published today by the Scottish Funding Council marks another step forward in the development of a plan to steer investment in Scotland’s college campuses. Designed for the future, the College Infrastructure Investment Plan will anticipate trends in digital learning and net zero as well as the use of built assets.
Today’s progress report appears at the same time as new guidance for colleges selling land or buildings bought with public money. Ministers have approved changes that will see colleges able to keep all the proceeds from sales under £1 million and 70% of proceeds from sales over £1 million.
According to the progress report, a vital milestone towards the national investment plan has been achieved by building a pioneering new database of the complete Scottish college estate. The groundwork has also been laid for new approaches to the curriculum to be fed into the emerging infrastructure investment plan.
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive 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.
“Today’s report makes clear the progress that has been made towards having strong and accurate evidence for the investment decisions that will help us achieve that ambition.
“The changes approved by ministers and the new guidelines for the selling of land and buildings also provide a real boost for our collective long-term approach to infrastructure investment.”
The next steps will see the Scottish Funding Council working with colleges and partners 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.
The College Infrastructure Investment Plan is due for publication in Autumn 2026.
The College Infrastructure Investment Plan: Progress Report and Guidance for the Disposal of Publicly Funded Land and Buildings and the Retention of Proceeds by Colleges are now available on the SFC website.
