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Receiving an allocation from the Tackling Child Poverty Fund has allowed Dundee and Angus College to work creatively and considerately with young people who previously did not consider college to be an option.

Through its innovative ‘Find Your Future’ project, the College has been able to demonstrate that learning and progression can take many forms, from engaging in soft touchpoints to starting full-time mainstream courses.

Amongst the clear benefits of the project are its offer of flexible provision and wrap-around support, which has empowered young people back into learning. Staff working on the project have also seen a visible increase in overall wellbeing and self-efficacy of participants – young people who had been disempowered and disenfranchised.

The project has created successful partnerships with many public and third sector organisations across Angus and Dundee. This has been a key factor in its ability to reach the young people it was designed to support.

Even through lockdown, staff working on the project were able to work creatively by delivering online opportunities. These included two successful Gaming Academies in partnership with INTO Games and industry experts, Outplay. They also included a weekly Wellbeing Group in partnership with Community Learning & Development and GOGA.

Now that lockdown has lifted, the College is onto its final academy, FYF in the Countryside, equipping another cohort with work-based training and accreditation.

The College is currently awaiting news about its final year of funding, so it can continue to grow what is proving to be a unique and impactful approach to working with young people.

Its future work will be inspired by the amazing feedback from those who have been involved in the ‘Find Your Future’ project so far:

“You made me see differently. You made all my options so clear and now I’m here.”

“I never would’ve come to college if you hadn’t come to see us in the town. Week 3 and I’m loving it!”

“The young parents I have spoken to are so excited by what this project can offer them! This provision will really fill a gap for us and our young people.”

“This project . . . a light touch service to break down barriers with young people . . . we now see that it is one we have been missing.”

Katie Baxter, Learning Engagement Manager, Dundee and Angus College

SFC’s Call for Proposals for the 2021-22 Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan has now been published.

In a £1.9 billion indicative funding announcement made today, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) pledges to support students to complete their studies, create new funded places for students and apprenticeships, and protect research, as part of an education-led economic recovery.

According to the figures released by SFC, the college sector should plan for an increase of more than £70 million while universities are set to receive a record £1,112.4 million.

In order to help students to complete their studies, individual colleges will see increases to their teaching grants of between 6.9 percent and 12.8 percent. The increases will include funding for mental health services and digital learning. Colleges will also receive one-off funding to support employers get the skills they need and to help people reskill for future employment.

In the university sector, teaching funding will increase by 8.1 percent. This will include funding for additional places created following increased applications from school leavers. The funding also secures an increase in research investment.

These indicative allocations for the next academic year build on an additional investment of £80 million also announced today for the current year. Alongside helping to ease significant financial pressures across the sector, and lost income arising from the Covid pandemic, this investment includes an additional £40 million to support students to complete studies disrupted by the pandemic and to protect jobs across the sector. A further £20 million will provide an immediate boost for research and knowledge exchange, supporting Scotland’s economic recovery.

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“Colleges and universities have been flexible, responsive and innovative in dealing with the impact of Covid-19. The funding we are announcing today will support students to gain qualifications and move on to further studies or into employment, and will protect vital research for the future. Investing in this pipeline of talent and research matters for Scotland’s social and economic recovery, and future prosperity.”

The additional and indicative funding allocations can be accessed from our home page under ‘Latest Publications’.

New resources, designed to help tackle the issue of racism on university and college campuses, have been unveiled today at a national equality and diversity conference.

Their development has been funded and supported by the Scottish Funding Council, working in partnership with HE equalities organisation, Advance HE, and created by a steering group of experts from the Scottish further and higher education sectors.

The project to develop the resources is part of a wider SFC-funded initiative set up in response to the 2019 Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) enquiry into racial harassment at universities in the UK. The report revealed that racial harassment was a common experience for students and staff. Following its publication, EHRC Commissioner, Pavita Cooper, called on people to listen to the real life experiences of those studying and working at universities and to tackle the issue “once and for all”.

Khadija Mohammed, a senior lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland and Chair of the steering group, said:

“It has been an absolute honour and privilege to work alongside an expert steering group. Together, we shared powerful stories of our lived experiences of racial harassment and these narratives helped to shape the direction of this project.

 

“Our passion and commitment is evident through the co-creation of the assets. We have had some critical and often uncomfortable conversations about race and racism in our institutions.

 

“It’s now time for critical action and accountability – the challenge will be to sustain the dialogue, as we move forward as a sector, in order to ensure our educational settings are racially just and inclusive spaces.”

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“The EHRC Commissioner called for people to listen to the experiences of those who have suffered racial harassment on campus and to tackle the issues raised. That was the starting point for SFC’s investment in this project and for the work we have undertaken since 2019 with the EHRC and Advance HE.

 

 

“I am proud of what we have achieved so far, and grateful to the work done by Khadija and the Steering Group in producing resources to support informed discussion and actions. This is a significant step forward and a strong platform for the work that lies ahead.”

The resources include a Race Literacy Glossary which defines and explains terms used in current debates about racism, making it easier for students and staff to have informed discussions. The materials also contain guidance for leadership teams considering the actions they need to take to stamp out racism on campus.

The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead, has announced that Mike Cantlay has been reappointed as Chair of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for a further four years.

First appointed SFC Chair in October 2017, Mr Cantlay is currently also Chair of NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage). He has previously held other senior public offices, including Chair of VisitScotland; Chair of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley; and Chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. Mr Cantlay studied at the University of Strathclyde and has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling. He was made an OBE in 2014 for services to tourism.

Welcoming the news, Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“During Mike’s first term in office, the Scottish Funding Council has risen to many challenges in order to sustain Scotland’s world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation.

 

 

“Mike’s experience in both the private sector and in public sectors has been an invaluable asset throughout. I am delighted that Mike will remain as Chair of SFC as we face the task of supporting Scotland’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and considering the future for students, research and innovation, and sustainable institutions.”

The Fuel Change Challenge National Showcase took place yesterday (Wed 3 March). The event unveiled 20 low carbon concepts, selected from 38 original submissions, which will now be taken forward for further development.

Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Skills Development Scotland, the Fuel Challenge was set up to provide a unique platform for the next generation to create a low carbon future.

The apprentices presented their concepts to a panel of experts, having earlier received guidance and support from industry mentors. The concepts were developed in response to six challenges, including; how to recycle decommissioned aircraft; how to create an electric bus network in a medium-sized town; and how to create virtual replicas of physical devices.

Some projects were highlighted by the judges as being worthy of special mention. Amongst these was the manufacture of feature clocks from aircraft fuselages, where it was revealed that the team had already made its first sale. The judges were equally impressed by the concept of “Green Fort William”, and the idea of seaweed farms to absorb CO2 and produce harvestable products.

The judges stressed that each of the 20 showcased ideas were commissionable and praised the “vision, energy and innovation” of all the teams.

David Reid, Programme Director at Fuel Change, said:

“Fuel Change has proven that it’s time for my generation to embrace the energy and inventiveness of the next generation in tackling climate change. This platform will lead to jobs and skills for the future, created by those who deliver them.”

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“I’m delighted that we have been able to joint-fund this initiative along with our partners, Skills Development Scotland. This is an imaginative and well-designed initiative that meets an important national objective for climate change. The National Showcase was an amazing event and the culmination of a lot of hard work from the apprentices and their mentors.”

The keynote speaker at the event was Sacha Dench, an Australian biologist, conservationist, UN Ambassador and adventurer who undertook a 7,000 kilometre migration survey on a paramotor. The event was hosted by BBC presenter, Amy Irons.

Scotland’s colleges are to benefit from £8.7 million of funding distributed by the Scottish Funding Council, with a further £1.3 million for student support being delivered through SAAS, as part of the Young Person’s Guarantee.

Launched by the Scottish Government in November 2020 this funding is part of the £60 million invested this year in the Young Person’s Guarantee. This will offer all young people between the ages of 16 and 24 the chance to succeed through the opportunity to study; take up an apprenticeship, job or work experience; or participate in formal volunteering.

The Guarantee is being delivered in partnership through Scottish Government, colleges and universities, Local Authorities, Skills Development Scotland, Fair Start Scotland, the third sector, DWP Kickstart and Developing the Young Workforce.

Colleges will play a vital role in Scotland’s education-led economic recovery and this funding is supporting them to provide new and innovative courses which will provide opportunities for up to 5,000 young people seeking to learn new skills in key sectors such as engineering, computing and digital, education and care.

Importantly, these courses will be linked to employers and developed with industry partners to ensure they are delivering the essential skills that each sector requires.

Scottish Government Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

“During this crisis we have taken action to support young people who have been some of the hardest by the pandemic.

 

 

“Since November alone, the Young Person’s Guarantee has created around 18,000 opportunities for people aged between 16 and 24 to help them into work, education or training. This new college provision is a key part of that work, supporting our future workforce to gain valuable skills and experience and support a strong economic recovery for Scotland.”

SFC Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, James Dunphy, said:

“Given the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s prospects, it is more important than ever that Scotland’s young people are not left behind. Our colleges are ideally placed to provide opportunities that will provide them with new skills and prepare them for the world of work.

 

 

“We are delighted that the Young Person’s Guarantee is supporting colleges to develop courses that both support the needs of learners and also meet the needs of their regional economies as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 environment.”

Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:

“This is a really difficult time for many young people and the Young Person’s Guarantee means a range of new college courses have been promptly rolled out to support people under 25 enhance their qualifications and skills.

 

 

“Colleges across Scotland are committed to working with young people to make the most of all the available opportunities during the pandemic. Colleges are a critical part of helping this generation to thrive in their future careers.”

Background

New figures from the university admissions service, UCAS, show the total number of applicants to Scottish universities has risen by over 12 per cent (an increase of 14,700 applicants), reaching a record high for this point in the application cycle.

The figures show a significant increase in applicants to Scottish universities from young people aged 18 or under. By the 29 January deadline, a total of 20,410 students in this age group had applied for a place, an increase of over 16 per cent – or 2,900 applicants. The number of applicants aged 21 or over has also increased this year and is up by 13.4 per cent.

The number of Scottish school leavers applying to nursing courses at a Scottish university has increased by 27.7 per cent, indicative of the high profile of the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic and a reminder of the part played by Scotland’s universities in enabling and supporting Scotland’s health services.

The UCAS figures reflect changes brought about by Brexit, with EU application figures to Scottish universities falling by almost 40 per cent, a picture reflected at universities across the UK. In line with a trend that first emerged in 2015, the number of non-EU overseas applicants to Scottish universities has continued to rise, increasing by over 26 per cent.

There was positive news too for initiatives, such as the SFC-funded Schools for Higher Education Programme, which work to encourage school pupils from deprived areas to apply for a place at university. For the 2021 admissions cycle, the number of school age applicants from Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas makes up almost 12 per cent of all applicants, a 0.5 percentage point increase on the previous cycle.

Data showing applications to the 29 January deadline 2021 is now available on the UCAS website.

The Scottish Government has published (4 February 2021) its Infrastructure Investment Plan for 2021-22 to 2025-26, alongside the Capital Spending Review. They confirm a five year plan of investment that will support 45,000 jobs and build healthcare, education and local facilities across Scotland.

Three strategic themes will guide investment decisions in Scotland:

Included within the Infrastructure Plan is up to £90 million towards the Dunfermline Learning Campus which will bring together Fife College’s current Dunfermline Campus, Woodmill High and St Columba’s High School in a modern, fit for purpose, low carbon facility which it is hoped will be ready by the end of 2024.

The Capital Spending Review also confirms investment of £1,582.1 million in research and knowledge exchange activity across our universities, underpinned by additional capital investment in university research infrastructure.

The further and higher education sectors will also benefit from:

Since the draft Infrastructure Investment Plan was first published in September, the Scottish Government has increased the total spend by £2 billion to further boost economic and green recovery from the pandemic.

New figures published today by the universities admissions service, UCAS, show increasing numbers of students are studying STEM subjects at Scottish universities. The findings form part of UCAS’s end of cycle reporting on 2020-21 university applications.

According to today’s statistics, the biggest increases have been for Biological Sciences (12.8% per cent) and Physical Sciences (10.3 per cent). Other increases for STEM subject groups include a 6.8 per cent increase for Mathematical Sciences, a 3.8 percent increase for Computer Sciences, and a 10% increase for Technologies.

STEM skills are seen as key drivers of innovation and growth and as the basis for Scotland’s global reputation for excellence in the sciences. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining and developing STEM skills.

Writing in the latest annual report on the Scottish Government’s STEM strategy, Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said: “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – STEM – have never been more relevant than they are today as we face a global climate emergency, and the uncertain future arising from the UK’s exit from the European Union.”

As part of its current Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability, the Scottish Funding Council is looking at future investment in STEM subjects. The Review’s Phase One report states that STEM and related areas such as data science and quantum technology will require graduate and postgraduate skills, and are areas in which Scotland can lead the world.

The full UCAS provider level end of cycle report is now available on the UCAS website.

Two new grants from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) are to be made available to researchers and academics whose work has been adversely affected by COVID-19, or who are investigating the impact of climate change. The funding behind the grants is part of the RSE and Scottish Funding Council (SFC) agreement.

The Research Re-Boot (COVID-19 IMPACT) Research Grant will provide financial backing to help restart existing research or kick-start new work. The fund is targeted at academics whose work has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

The second fund – the RSE COP 26 International Climate Change Network Grant – offers funding of up to £10,000 for existing research networks to assess the impact of climate change ahead of Scotland hosting COP26 later this year.

Dr Rebekah Widdowfield, Chief Executive of the RSE said: “The role played by science and research has never been more important. The last 12 months have highlighted the value of continual investment in our science and research base in enabling us to mitigate and respond to national and global challenges.

“Our aim, through these two new awards, is to support academics who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic to reboot their research, and also to facilitate international collaboration on climate change in the run up to COP26. Two different funds but both with the potential to change lives for both individuals and wider society.”

Dr Stuart Fancey, SFC’s Director of Research and Innovation, added: “These calls create the space for fresh thinking for those impacted by the various pressures of COVID-19. They also nurture networks and capacity-building within Scotland’s research base, and allow us to strengthen our international connections which are all the more important in a post-Brexit research landscape.
We very much look forward to seeing the outcomes of these two new award programmes put in place by the RSE.”

Applications must be submitted by 3 March. Full details are available on the RSE website.

Figures published by the Higher Education Statistic Authority (HESA) this week confirm Scottish universities have met a landmark target for widening access two years early.

In its 2016 report, A Blueprint for Fairness Scotland’s Commission on Widening Access called for at least 16 percent of people starting a full-time undergraduate degree course by 2021 to come from the country’s most deprived backgrounds. The Commission saw this as a key milestone on the road to creating equality of access to higher education.

According to the new figures, the proportion of Scottish-domiciled full-time first degree entrants from the 20 percent most deprived areas grew from 15.9 percent in 2018-19 to 16.4 percent in 2019-20. The figures also show an overall 2.8 percent increase of more than 7,000 students enrolled on higher education courses at colleges and universities in Scotland.

Speaking about the significance of the new figures, Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“Meeting this milestone early is a fantastic achievement. More people in our most disadvantaged communities are getting the same opportunity to access higher education as anybody else. This matters for fairness, improving life chances, and making the most of everyone’s talents for our economic prosperity. Colleges and universities are committed to widening access to higher education and we will continue to support them to ensure we build on this success.”

The full report is now available on the HESA website.

The Scottish Government has today (28 January) announced its draft budget for 2021-22. This year’s budget is set against the backdrop of the most challenging times in living memory. The global COVID-19 pandemic has had and continues to have an unprecedented impact on our economy and on our education and skills system.

In recognition of the vital role that our colleges and universities play and will continue to play in Scotland’s economic recovery and wellbeing, Ministers have increased funding for both sectors as follows:

The uplifts support sustainability of the sector and help mitigate against the effects of the pandemic, recognising the disruption to learning and teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Welcoming today’s budget, Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council said:

“In a tight public sector funding environment, the Scottish Funding Council welcomes today’s budget announcement which underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to our colleges and universities in particularly challenging times and recognises the important role they play in supporting Scotland’s economic recovery and wellbeing.”

The full budget statement can be found on the Scottish Government website.

The Scottish Funding Council is to provide up to £25,000 of funding to support Forth Valley College as it prepares to host COVID-19 vaccination centres.

The college’s Falkirk, Stirling and Alloa Campuses will each play a key role as Scotland ramps up its campaign to tackle the virus and vaccinate communities across the country. Distribution of the NHS Forth Valley vaccinations is scheduled to take place from the end of January at the Falkirk campus and by the second week in February in Stirling and Alloa.

Forth Valley College already has in place robust procedures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including hand sanitisers, social distancing signage and protective screens. Enhanced cleaning procedures adopted by the college also add to the campuses’ suitability as vaccination centres. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions most of the college’s students and staff are learning and working from home.

Forth Valley College Principal, Dr Ken Thomson, said:

“As Forth Valley College is at the heart of the communities of Falkirk, Stirling and Alloa, we felt it was important to offer NHS Forth Valley our campuses as possible vaccination centres over the coming weeks.”

Cathie Cowan, the Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, said:

“These modern, accessible buildings provide flexible indoor spaces and outdoor car parking and drop off areas that are ideal for people of all ages and mobility levels to come and receive their vaccine safely during the time of a pandemic.

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, colleges have time and again acted swiftly to respond to the national effort to tackle the virus and support the communities they serve. We are delighted to support Forth Valley College play an important part in the vaccination roll out programme.”

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today confirmed the allocation of £730,250 from the Scottish Government to provide additional support for students’ associations and unions in colleges and universities for the current financial year.

The announcement comes in addition to the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing support which was confirmed on 18 December 2020. This new block of funding encourages institutions to work closely with their students’ associations in developing and providing mental health support for their students and to develop services with students where possible.

This funding announcement is conditional on college and university students’ associations liaising with NUS Scotland which will compile a report on the use of the funds for the Scottish Government and SFC. The report will cover affiliated and non-affiliated students’ associations and will detail the effectiveness of the investment and the impact it has created.

SFC’s funding announcement suggests the following possible uses for the funds:

James Dunphy, SFC’s Director for Access, Learning and Outcomes said:

 

“We recognise the excellent work that is taking place in students’ associations right now. The purpose of this funding is to support students’ associations to enhance the help they can offer students and to enable the expansion of this as we continue to collectively respond to meet student need.

 

“Students’ associations play a hugely important role in Scotland’s education and skills system. This funding recognises our commitment to students and student bodies, helping them identify their own needs, represent their interests and bring about the changes they want to see to enhance learning and improve mental health and wellbeing support.”

A new report from the Scottish Funding Council shows that colleges in Scotland exceeded last year’s annual target for providing learning and teaching despite the challenges they faced as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the report, College Statistics 2019-20, colleges exceeded the Scottish Government’s 2019-20 target by almost 1,400 FTEs (full-time equivalents) – a key measure of college performance. Although the report points to the challenges faced by the sector at the start of the pandemic, colleges adapted to changing circumstances, moving swiftly to digital learning and online recruitment.

The report also draws attention to population changes currently affecting the number of young people going to college in Scotland. The last decade has seen a decrease in the number of Scottish 18 to 19 year olds of almost 14 per cent. Despite the decreasing demographic, colleges remain an attractive option for young people, with the proportion of 18 to 19 year olds participating in full-time college education remaining stable. In the last academic year, one in five young Scots in that age bracket was a full-time college student.

Additionally, the report highlights that courses related to medicine, health care and health and safety account for the greatest proportion of learning activity, increasing by 2.8 percentage points this year and continuing a trend that began in 2010. This means colleges are well placed to play their part in addressing the challenges that have been brought into sharp focus by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, as recipients of additional funding this year from Scottish Government initiatives such as the Young Person’s Guarantee and the National Transition Training Fund, colleges will play a vital role in Scotland’s economic recovery.

Martin Boyle, Director of Policy, Insight and Analytics at the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“It is a fantastic achievement for colleges to have met their student number target at the same time as balancing so many other issues resulting from the pandemic. Not only did they respond to the challenges of providing online learning but they also continued to enroll students through innovations such as virtual online open days and online enrolment.

 

 

“Colleges are currently working across their communities with employers, local government, employer representatives and others to support economic recovery both during and after the pandemic as well as playing an important role in initiatives such as the Young Person’s Guarantee and the National Transition Training Fund.”

See full details of the new report, College Statistics 2019-20.

The Scottish Government has announced university students will be taught online throughout January and February, with the vast majority not expected back on campuses until the start of March, as part of a revised plan for their return in light of the spread of the new variant of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Only very small numbers of students will be allowed back on campus this month, for example, those:

Colleges will follow the level guidance for their local authority area which in practice means with limited exemptions the majority of college students’ studies will be online in January and into February.

Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said detailed sectoral guidance will be published as soon as possible next week, but that his basic message to students remains that they should not return to their term-time accommodation until in-person teaching resumes, as advised by their institution.

Mr Lochhead said:

“These changes reflect the current status of the virus, the reality of the new strain, and the rise in cases in recent weeks.

“The return of students to campus, including returning to term-time accommodation, involves the mass movement of thousands of people across the country. The mixing of people on that scale, including the potential movement of tens of thousands of students to university halls and private-rented flats, simply isn’t safe right now. It would fuel the virus, and that is something no one wants.

 

“Our immediate priority right now is to say to students, other than in specific special circumstances, they must not return to their campus or term-time accommodation before they are specifically told to do so by their institution.

“For the overwhelming majority of university students, this means all learning will be online-only at least for January and February, and students should not expect to return to campus or student accommodation before the end of February.

 

“We will review plans in light of the state of the pandemic nearer the time, but right now even the very limited number of returns that were previously planned for phase 2 of the restart dates, cannot happen until at least the middle of next month for the majority of students, supported by rapid-result testing on arrival.”

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published a new statistical report looking at student transitions from college to university. The publication focusses on articulation, the mechanism which enables college students to join a university degree course at the start of its second or third year.

Recent advances in SFC’s development of a national database for articulation have opened up new and more nuanced ways of understanding how the process works.

For the first time analysts have been able to study two distinct groups. One group covers a wider definition of articulation and includes a wider spectrum of qualifications, as well as students moving between the higher education courses provided by the University of the Highlands and Islands and SRUC. The second group only comprises Higher National Certificate and Higher National Diploma qualifications and excludes internal movements within institutions that provide both further and higher education courses.

According to the report’s authors, widening the discussion in this way opens the door to a more complete understanding of the learning pathways available to students wishing to progress without repeating any levels of learning.

Although the report effectively sets a new baseline for analysing articulation, it also provides an annual comparison of the proportion of students living in Scotland who enter a university degree course from HNC/HND at college. This has remained at between 21 to just less than 23 per cent since 2014-15 and has been a consistent contributor to progress in widening access.

Whilst the growth in acceptances of a university place from people living in Scotland’s most deprived areas (including a 5% increase for 2020-21) has helped to place Scotland effectively two years ahead of its widening access targets, articulation has also played an important part. Its proportional contribution has held steady despite more disadvantaged students choosing direct entry to university as their route to a degree.

Commenting on the significance of today’s report, SFC’s Director of Policy, Insight & Analytics, Martin Boyle said:

“Improving pathways from college to university is one of the ways in which we can expand access to higher education and it’s important that our institutions continue to work together so that learners receive credit for prior learning where appropriate. Thanks to productive collaboration we now have a clearer and more detailed picture about pathways to a university degree. The findings of today’s report will feed into our Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability, and further develop our thinking about more efficient pathways for learners.”

Read the full Articulation from Scottish Colleges to Scottish Universities 2014-15 to 2018-19 report.

Scottish Water and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) have announced a unique partnership with the University of Stirling to turn Scotland into one of the world’s leading hydro nations.

The publicly owned water and waste water company and SFC have appointed the University of Stirling to host and lead a £3.5m initiative to make Scotland a global leader in water research.

The initiative, which is funded by Scottish Water, will be a catalyst for academic research and innovation led by the newly-created post of The Scotland Hydro Nation Chair.

The Chair, hosted by the University of Stirling, will provide the leadership to forge collaborative partnerships across the sector to deliver solutions for sustainable water management in Scotland. The University has an extensive track record of delivering impact and innovative solutions in water research.

The University’s leadership and research expertise will play a pivotal role in the Hydro Nation partnership, supporting the ambitions for Scotland to transition to a net zero economy. It was chosen following a competitive bid process involving a number of Scottish universities.

Funding to support the Hydro Nation Chair in Water post and its associated activities will be spread over six years from April 2021.

Professor Maggie Cusack, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Stirling, said:

“We are proud to be host institution for Chair of this partnership that will use the expertise, technologies, services, and natural opportunities present in Scotland to attract new investment and position the country as a world-leading Hydro Nation. That ambition can only be achieved by bringing the research community together with industry, regulators, and citizens.

 

 

“By transforming our relationship with the environment and through responsible commercial leadership, the Hydro Nation partnership can improve health and wellbeing, support economic development, and tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies. The role it has in promoting a green recovery can be a global exemplar of best practice for sustainable water management.”

The University will now lead the international recruitment process for the appointment of the partnership’s Chair, and other key roles.

George Ponton, Head of Research and Innovation at Scottish Water, said:

“Scottish Water’s strategic plan has set challenging objectives to go beyond net zero emissions, deliver service excellence and great value for our customers.

 

“The Scotland Hydro Nation Chair will provide thought leadership and research excellence from across the academic sector to enable the transformation required to meet these ambitions.

 

“This is a great opportunity to build on the great reputation that the Scottish research community has and for Scotland to become internationally recognised as a leader in water research and innovation.”

He added:

“Research and innovation will be a key enabler for the transformative change required to the way the water sector operates, to make a positive contribution to Scotland’s net zero ambition, to deliver service excellence and to live within the means of our planet’s resources.”

Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“As the host university for the Scotland Hydro Nation Chair in Water, the University of Stirling will play a fundamental role in the future of Scottish research and innovation in this area.

 

 

“By being the lynchpin for future collaboration between universities, the University of Stirling will help to catalyse new discoveries in water technology and will consequently play a crucial role in helping to tackle the climate emergency. The Scottish Funding Council is really pleased to support Scottish Water as it creates this exciting new leadership opportunity.”

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

“I am pleased that Scottish Water have partnered with Stirling University. This is a hugely significant development that will consolidate Scotland’s place as a global leader in water research and make good on our Programme for Government commitment to support Scottish Water’s journey to net zero by 2040.

 

 

“The recently published annual Hydro Nation report shows how innovation and research excellence are central to our vision of Scotland as a Hydro Nation. I am proud that the water sector not only continues to flourish but is playing such a significant role in ensuring our future is green, just and sustainable.”

Scotland’s Hydro Nation Chair will complement the existing relevant research and innovation initiatives and infrastructure in Scotland and will play a leading role in maximising Scotland’s academic water impact, international reputation and engagement with wider sectors to deliver the knowledge and capability required to enable transformative change and to attain net zero carbon emissions by 2040.

New research and innovation stimulated by the creation of a Scotland Hydro Nation Chair will include the recycling of waste-water and ways of enhancing the natural environment. Importantly, it will also work towards ensuring that people across the whole of Scotland will continue to enjoy access to high quality drinking water.

Now in their sixth year, the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2021 have been launched today. The awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of academic and business partnerships.

Hosted by SFC-funded Interface, the awards ceremony will be held virtually on World Creativity and Innovation Day, 21 April 2021.

Two new categories have been added for next year’s awards. One will showcase the incredible business-academic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a second will celebrate an individual or team working behind the scenes to forge impactful business-academic partnerships.

Applications are being invited in eight categories, from businesses; public sector organisations; third sector; universities; research institutes; and colleges which are leading the way towards economic growth, societal improvements and environmental advances in Scotland and beyond.

Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, who has attended the Awards for the past two years, said:

“Innovation will underpin the growth of Scotland’s high value, inclusive and sustainable economy, and organisations must collaborate if we are to achieve our full potential.

“Interface’s rapid response to the challenges of COVID-19 demonstrates what Scottish businesses and academia are capable of. This ability to pivot, innovate and co-operate will be key to Scotland’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

“The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards are an important showcase of the important, and growing links, between business and academia and I am delighted to support this event.”

Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said:

“In what has been a difficult year, business-academic partnerships have continued to make a difference, rising to the many challenges brought by COVID-19, as well as other health, societal and environment issues.

“We are looking forward to receiving a high level of applications from across Scotland, showcasing the best of business-academic partnerships.”

Either Academics or businesses can submit an application by the deadline of 5pm on Friday, 12 February 2021.

For further information and a full list of categories see the Interface website.

The first projects to receive a share of the new £25 million National Transition Training Fund have been unveiled by Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn.

Among the first to receive support are projects within key sectors of the Scottish economy that have suffered the most from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including aviation, construction and tourism. The fund will also help people take advantage of the jobs available in future growth areas, such as digital and green technologies.

Speaking as the projects were announced, Mr Hepburn said:

“The pandemic has had significant impact on our economy and we know this is a worrying time for people. We will continue to do everything we can to protect jobs and ensure that people faced with redundancy can get back to work as quickly as possible.

 

“The National Transition Training Fund plays a key role in this and is targeted at those who have either lost their job or are at risk of redundancy as a result of COVID-19. It will help up to 10,000 people across Scotland retrain and develop the skills they need to secure their future employment.

“Crucially, this fund will not only help those working in sectors most affected by the pandemic and whose livelihoods are at risk, it will also support people to take advantage of jobs available in growth areas of the Scottish economy, which will help us in our transition to net zero.

 

“As we recover from the pandemic, we must create a stronger, more resilient, more sustainable economy. Ensuring people have the right skills to future proof their careers is crucial in achieving that goal.”

James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“The National Transition Training Fund will be a crucial part of Scotland’s economic recovery from the effects of the global pandemic.

 

 

“It will also provide a significant skills boost to Scotland’s industries of the future. Colleges are well positioned to help deliver the priorities the new fund seeks to address, and they will have the full support of the Scottish Funding Council in doing so.”

Katie Hutton, Director of National Training Programmes at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) said:

“The National Transition Training Fund is playing an important role in helping more people access jobs in the growth areas of our economy.

 

“This benefits not only those individuals who are gaining new skills to get back to work, but employers in key sectors who are able to recruit from a larger pool of talent.

 

“Together with other measures such as Pathway Apprenticeships, the Young Person’s Guarantee and the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, it will help our economy emerge as strongly as possible from the pandemic.”