More employers across Scotland can now apply for funding to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities for their staff.
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) helps businesses to invest in their workforce and is available for all of Scotland’s employers subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. For the first time, the fund will now be available for both levy payers and SMEs, across the private, public and third sectors.
In August this year, the FWDF was doubled to £20 million for 2020-21, with £13 million made available through the first phase to allow colleges to provide additional support for levy paying employers. This was part of the Scottish Government’s response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second phase of the fund, backed by £7 million, will also be utilised to respond directly to the impacts of the pandemic, and will be open to applications from 16 November 2020.
Of this, £5 million will be distributed by the Scottish Funding Council to support SMEs through a college and Open University in Scotland partnership, while Skills Development Scotland will offer a new option which will test the use of private training providers for levy paying businesses who require specialist training.
Business, Fair Work and Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn said:
“Opportunities for training are essential for both employers and employees, and in August we doubled funding for our Flexible Workforce Development Fund to £20 million for 2020-21 to ensure businesses across Scotland can continue to invest in their workforce.
“As this fund adapts and responds to the impacts of the pandemic, we will also see the introduction of additional delivery partners including the Open University in Scotland and private training providers for employers who require more specialist training.
“By strengthening upskilling the existing workforce, in partnership with colleges, we can retain jobs and support employers as they pivot and adapt to a new and very different working environment as a result of the pandemic.”
The first organisations to back the £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee have been announced by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
In a collective effort to help young people, the Scottish Government has been joined by SSE, Capgemini, NHS Lothian, Scottish Water and Standard Life Aberdeen in the commitment to ensure everyone aged between 16 and 24 has the opportunity of work, education or training.
The Guarantee aims to give all young people in Scotland the chance to succeed despite the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) Organisations backing the Guarantee make five pledges to help young people at this critical time:
- Prepare young people for the world of work through work experience, volunteering and work-based learning opportunities.
- Engage with and provide opportunities to young people who face barriers to work.
- Create work-based learning, training and upskilling opportunities for young people.
- Create jobs and opportunities for young people through apprenticeships, paid internships and work experience.
- Create an inclusive workplace to support learning and enable young people to meet their potential.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
“The pandemic is having a disproportionate economic effect on our young people, reducing job opportunities just as they are starting out on their careers. I am delighted to be launching the Young Person’s Guarantee today to help ensure their prospects are not permanently damaged
“I want to thank the early trailblazers who have backed our ambitious initiative and recognise the importance of supporting our young people.
“The leadership of employers from across Scotland and from all sectors will be key in providing the opportunities that will make this Guarantee a success. This employer leadership will build on our strong track record of tackling youth unemployment through our industry led Youth Employment Strategy – Developing the Young Workforce.”
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is proud to be a partner supporting the Young Person Guarantee. Colleges and universities will play a significant role in delivering the educational and training elements of the scheme and will be supported to do so with funding allocated by SFC.
Students across Scotland will have access to more support to help them deal with the mental health impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Additional Scottish Government funding, which will be distributed to colleges and universities by the Scottish Funding Council, will allow support staff to carry out more frequent checks to identify potential mental health issues, as well as wider welfare concerns, such as access to food deliveries and other necessities. The funding will also help to increase the number of drop-in chats for students, which will offer counselling on a digital platform. Staff will also be able to direct students to the appropriate services, including referring them to a clinician, if appropriate.
Minister for Mental Health Clare Haughey said:
“We want students and their families to feel reassured that practical and welfare support is in place, particularly given current circumstances.
“This extra funding will build on the support already in place, including the additional counsellors provided by our recent investment of £3.64 million.
“During the pandemic we have committed £6 million of funding to improve mental health throughout Scotland. And on Monday, we announced £15 million to respond to the mental health issues of children and young people. Students have access to all services available to the general population, including the Clear Your Head campaign to support people to take care of their mental health and wellbeing.
“We have also expanded the NHS24 Mental Health Hub so that it is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and increased the capacity of the Breathing Space telephone helpline and web support service.”
Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, James Dunphy said:
“Positive mental health is fundamental to students’ ability to progress and make the most of their education experience. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of many students, both new and returning, and so we welcome this additional funding.
“Colleges and universities have made great progress with the funding they have already received, employing additional counsellors to support students in need, and this additional funding will enable them to target their support in more flexible ways, including increased access to online services, crisis intervention, and wellbeing support for those in isolation.”
NUS Scotland President Matt Crilly said:
“We warmly welcome today’s additional funding which will help to support students’ mental health and wellbeing after a tough start to the academic year.
“The impact of COVID-19 on students has undoubtedly taken its toll – academically, financially and socially. Now more than ever we need to ensure that their mental health and wellbeing is looked after, and this funding is a welcome start to ensuring that every student who needs support, has access to it. We look forward to further details of how the funding will be allocated and spent.”
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published for public consultation its draft Gaelic Language Plan 2020-25. Building on the commitments in its two earlier plans, this third Gaelic Plan sets out how SFC will enhance its support of Gaelic in line with the National Gaelic Language Plan.
SFC’s Gaelic Language Plan is developed within the framework of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. It sets out how SFC will use Gaelic in the operation of its function; how we will enable the use of Gaelic when communicating with the public and key partners; and how we will promote and develop Gaelic.
SFC’s vision continues to support the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan, particularly the growth of opportunities within the Scottish college and university sectors to learn and to use Gaelic. SFC supports the growth of opportunities to use and to learn Gaelic in Scottish communities, workplaces and learning environments which are beyond immediate spheres of influence.
Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation of the Scottish Funding Council said:
“The Gaelic Language Plan describes how our organisation supports the learning of Gaelic and the use of Gaelic in Scotland’s universities and colleges. Supporting Gaelic is a key part of our commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity in Scotland.
“As an employer we also have a responsibility to support staff engagement with the Gaelic language through staff training, Gaelic awareness courses, and ensuring the visibility of Gaelic in our working environment.”
You can view the draft Gaelic Language Plan here.
Dreachd Phlana Gàidhlig 2020-25
Tha Comhairle Maoineachaidh na h-Alba air an dreachd phlana Gàidhlig 2020-25 a chur fa chomhair a’ phobaill airson co-chomhairleachadh. Mar leudachadh air na rùintean san dà phlana roimhe, tha an treas plana Gàidhlig seo a’ mìneachadh ciamar a mheudaicheas SFC taic don Ghàidhlig ann an co-rèite ris a’ Phlana Ghàidhlig Nàiseanta.
Tha plana Gàidhlig SFC air a dheasachadh fo sgiath Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005. Tha e a’ cur an cèill ciamar a bhios SFC a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig gus an dleastanas aca a choileanadh; ciamar a bhios sinn a’ dèanamh feum dhen Ghàidhlig nuair a bhithear a’ conaltradh ris a’ phoball is ri prìomh chom-pàirtichean; agus ciamar a bhios sinn a’ brosnachadh agus a’ leasachadh na Gàidhlig.
Tha e na lèirsinn aig SFC taic a chumail ri amasan a’ phlana Ghàidhlig Nàiseanta fhathast, gu h-àraidh ri fàs nan cothroman ann an colaistean is oilthighean na h-Alba air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh agus a chleachdadh. Tha SFC a’ cur taic ri fàs nan cothroman air Gàidhlig ionnsachadh is a chleachdadh ann an coimhearsnachdan, àitean-obrach is àrainneachdan ionnsachaidh na h-Alba a tha a-mach à raointean air an toirear buaidh gu luath.
Thuirt Stuart Fancey, an stiùiriche rannsachaidh is ùr-ghnàthachais aig Comhairle Maoineachaidh na h-Alba,
“Tha am plana Gàidhlig a’ mìneachadh ciamar a tha am buidheann againn na thaic do dh’ionnsachadh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an oilthighean is colaistean na h-Alba. Tha an taic seo mar phrìomh phàirt dhe ar rùn airson iomadachd cultair is cànain a bhith ann an Alba.
“Mar fhastaiche tha uallach oirnn cuideachd taic a chumail ri com-pàirt an luchd-obrach anns a’ Ghàidhlig le trèanadh luchd-obrach, aire-chùrsaichean a thaobh na Gàidhlig, agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gun tèid Gàidhlig fhaicinn nar n-àrainneachd obrach.”
Seall air foillseachan an dreachd phlana Ghàidhlig air fad.
The Pathways Web App allows students and school leavers to look up further and higher education pathways in one place. The Pathways Web App was developed by the Regional Learner Passport Partnership (RLPP) and supported by the Scottish Funding Council to make pathways that exist across many colleges and universities easier to understand.
Above you will see Carole Mooney of Napier University demonstrate how the Pathways Web App is easy to use.
The advertising, promotion and understanding of learning options are often complex and difficult for pupils, students and advisers to find and navigate. In recognition of the many institutions and diverse range of courses, the Pathways Web App was established to promote and create efficient and clear routes to Higher Education in and around Edinburgh and the surrounding South-East Scotland area.
The Pathways Web App makes it clear that it is possible to move from college to university with full credit awarded for prior learning and is a distinctive and much admired feature of Scottish post-16 education. Now school leavers and students can look up their college and university options in one single place without contacting numerous institutions.
Scotland’s universities will benefit from a £10.15 million investment into adapting and improving their research laboratories as part of an £88 million UK wide scheme. The capital investment will support work on research challenges such as climate change and COVID-19 and will be distributed by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) in Scotland. An additional investment of around £1.7M will make similar COVID related adjustments to UK Research Partnership Investment Fund supported projects in Scotland’s universities.
Research labs will receive COVID-safe upgrades, such as changing the layout and equipment to move workstations further apart, installing screens, and improving air-handling and filtering systems.
The UK wide funding will help laboratories continue their vital work, contributing to knowledge, to our health and to our economy through adapting to allow working in a COVID safe manner.
Today’s announcement arises from the £300 million investment in world class research infrastructure announced by the UK Government’s Business Secretary Alok Sharma in July.
Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the SFC said:
“The Climate Crisis and the COVID-19 global pandemic further highlight the importance of investment in Research and Innovation. Scotland’s labs are playing a crucial role at the forefront of research in these and other important areas.
“This funding will enable vital COVID-related upgrades and other modernisation to existing research labs in Scotland. We welcome this investment by UKRI which will enable this essential work to continue throughout the pandemic”
Universities UK and GuildHE have launched the opportunity for institutions to sign up to the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Concordat. The Concordat includes eight principles to participate in the development year for England. The KE Concordat is a UK-wide initiative; however institutions from across the UK can participate in the development year.
The KE Concordat provides a framework for effective knowledge exchange and supports institutions to develop clear and ambitious strategic objectives for their KE activities. The development year will provide peer feedback to participating institutions on their strategic objectives and action plans and share examples of approaches to improvement and development of KE policies, practices and strategies.
Dr Stuart Fancey, Director, Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council said:
“The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) welcomes the KE Concordat as a positive contribution to furthering good practice in effective knowledge exchange. We are currently conducting a ‘review of coherent provision and sustainability’ and will consider the role of the Concordat in supporting our strategy for KE and innovation within that context.
In the meantime, we encourage institutions to sign-up to the guiding principles of the Concordat, while recognising that the current challenging environment may impact on the level of priority and implementation that can be given this year. We see this year as an opportunity to learn how the Concordat is adopted and implemented across the UK. The opportunity for any UK institution to take part in the development year process in England, should they wish to do so, is welcomed in this context.”
Institutions can sign up to the principles contained in the KE concordat and participate in the development year for England through completing a Letter of Commitment. Details of the self evaluation and action plan exercises that form part of the development year have been released on the KE concordat portal for institutions to see what is involved.
The evaluation of institutional action plans will be undertaken by evaluators drawn from the sector and partners. The nomination forms and criteria for evaluators will be issued in December 2020 with evaluators selected by February 2021.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published fresh guidance and college funding allocations for
2020-21’s Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF).
Launched in December 2016 the FWDF provides Apprenticeship Levy-paying employers with workforce development training, delivered by Scotland’s colleges, to upskill and reskill their existing workforce.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish Government has increased the annual £10 million fund to £13 million for academic year 2020-21. It will be distributed among colleges across Scotland by SFC and this year will focus in particular on enabling colleges to work with employers to adapt and respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and help employees upskill and reskill.
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has led to an unprecedented impact on our labour market. Scotland’s colleges have a key role in providing training that can be used to address the very significant employability and skills needs employers and employees face in the coming months and the additional funding provided by the FWDF will support them to do so.
All training will be agreed by 31 July 2021 (and have commenced by 31 August 2021) to be included as part of colleges’ Year 4 (2020-21) FWDF allocations.
The Scottish Funding Council has today (Tuesday 20 October) published the findings of Phase 1 of its review of colleges and universities. The Phase 1 Report recognises the vital role of Scotland’s colleges and universities in transforming lives, supplying a pipeline of talent, supporting economic and social renewal, and forging global networks but it also points to the need for change and for a mature conversation about their future so that their continued success and sustainability can be secured.
The Phase 1 report reflects the views of more than 100 organisations and many individuals. It comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought into sharp focus the financial challenges already facing Scotland’s colleges and universities. It identifies the need to address the immediate challenges facing the sector in the next two academic years but also shows there is a real appetite for a stimulating debate about what Scotland needs from tertiary education in the longer term.
Key findings from Phase 1 include the following:
- We have an opportunity in Scotland to have a much more integrated tertiary education and skills system – where people can start in college and more easily transition to university, where people get credit for prior learning and don’t have to repeat levels of study, where people from disadvantaged backgrounds get access to the education, skills and apprenticeships they need, where there are good connections between the senior phase in school and the transition to college and university, where there are entry and exit points that make lifelong learning a reality, where we train people for the skills they will need for the future. That means we need to review the way we fund education and skills, and the way we track good outcomes for students, whatever stage they’re at in their journey.
- We are in a middle of a digital revolution for learners – this is going to challenge the way students learn and will shape the student experience. We have a moment of inflection here – we have the opportunity to develop more efficient and high quality curriculums online, and support tutors and lecturing staff to harness this digital revolution for enhanced learning and teaching for students.
- And we need to listen to students and make sure their interests are at the heart of everything we do.
- We must build long-term relationships between colleges and universities and employers and industry. We do a lot of this already, but we got some excellent suggestions through this review of ways of making that even better for the future.
- We have choices about how to make our research as useful as possible and how to drive innovation and make improvements that are going to benefit economic growth, commercialise new medicines, develop new green transport, for example. That’s an exciting challenge because it can make a difference to the world around us and the way we live our lives. Universities and colleges have a key role in making this happen.
Commenting on the publication of the Phase 1 Report, SFC Chief Executive Karen Watt said:
“We have a fantastic and diverse set of colleges and universities in Scotland. They are real national assets. They provide us with skilled people from all walks of life, research breakthroughs that will solve some of the big health, social and economic challenges of our time, and they are important anchors in our communities. But as the world around us changes, at a time of economic upheaval, and when resources are tight, this review asks how we can secure their continued success and sustainability for learners and for Scotland.
“This first phase review report distils views from over 100 submissions and round-table discussions from all parts of public life. It aims to generate a debate about options for change. There are no easy answers, only difficult choices. But this review shows there is a real commitment to consider those choices based on what represents best value and the best impact for Scotland’s future success. We look forward to exploring the emerging themes in more detail through Phase 2 of our review.”
The SFC review of colleges and universities was commissioned by Scottish Ministers and is being carried out across three phases. The final phase is due to be completed in early summer 2021.
The Scottish Funding Council has published guidance to universities on how they should use its national upskilling fund to develop new, flexible skills-based courses.
Now in its second year, the focus of the fund is firmly on supporting people who have lost their job or are at risk of losing their job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities are being asked to build on recent innovations in this area and to further develop their ability to help people acquire skills for a changing economy. Institutions are also being encouraged to create additional learning materials and to offer opportunities to more people.
In the first year of funding for upskilling, the Open University in Scotland developed a series of special modules to address skills gaps in IT, business, maths and engineering. At Abertay University, people wanting to improve their skills in marketing were offered a suite of digital marketing qualifications designed to be relevant to any type of business. The University of the Highlands and Islands created two courses leading to qualifications in medical and social care.
In its guidance for this year, the Scottish Funding Council asks universities to collaborate to create a range of complementary opportunities and to avoid duplication. Courses developed through the upskilling fund will typically be much shorter than a full academic year and will have flexible start dates for students.
Universities are being asked to provide details of their plans for using the fund by early December.
More information is available on the SFC website.
A new blueprint for the digital age has been published today by a partnership that includes the Scottish Funding Council, College Development Network (CDN), Colleges Scotland and Jisc.
Described as “bold and inspirational”, the report focusses on how colleges can best prepare for new working practices through training and upskilling. Taking a people-centred approach, the plan also addresses the need to provide fair and equal opportunities for all in Scotland’s digital future.
Colleges across Scotland have already introduced pioneering digital initiatives, including Dundee and Angus’s Cyber Lab, which mirrors the real-life working conditions of cyber security experts. At Forth Valley College, staff have used a £65,000 investment from the SFC-administered College Innovation Fund to design an online course for healthcare workers. Glasgow Kelvin College has identified the need for a personal digital hub for students and developed the MyKelvin app. The app allows students to check their timetable, attendance record, library loans and other information about their life at college.
As part of the plan, colleges will provide high-quality opportunities for staff to improve their digital skills, and to put these into practice in their teaching and communication with students.
The Principal of Forth Valley College, Dr Ken Thomson OBE, who led the short life working group which produced the report, said:
“Thanks to digital, learning will be more engaging, giving students more flexibility. We will also be able to work with predictive analytics from real-life data, meaning that we will be able to identify students who require extra support, and use the data to support their learner journey progression.”
Our Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges is now available online.
The Scottish Funding Council has announced an allocation of £13.2 million to Scottish universities for this year from the UK Government’s £1.5 billion Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
The fund is designed to create international research collaborations to respond to global issues such as social welfare, environmental sustainability and economic development.
Since 2016-17, GCRF has supported more than 400 projects led by Scottish universities and involving over 70 developing countries. These include the development of an award-winning, low cost ophthalmology resource for health care workers by the University of St Andrews; the University of Glasgow’s research into the implications of teaching in English or native languages; and ongoing work into creating systems for safe drinking water by Robert Gordon University.
The success of Scottish universities in using GCRF and other international funding to help developing countries was reflected in the latest edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The rankings, which assess the world’s universities against the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, included five Scottish universities in 2020.
Speaking about the Fund, SFC Director of Research & Innovation, Dr Stuart Fancey said:
“Scottish universities’ research is making a real difference to the lives of people in a number of developing nations. SFC is pleased to partner with BEIS and these universities to help GCRF funding support research that responds to needs and opportunities in those countries, contributing to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
For more information see Global Challenges Research Funding allocations FY 2020-21 announcement.
The latest analysis from the university admission service, UCAS, shows an 8% increase in applicants being given a place at a Scottish university.
The 48,820 applicants now starting a full-time undergraduate degree course represent the highest number since 2011, an increase of 3,700 from this time last year.
According to UCAS, today’s figures – produced just over 5 weeks from SQA results day – provide a reliable indication of the final acceptance figures for the annual university applications cycle. As such, they will be seen as good news for Scottish universities at a time of uncertainty amidst the global coronavirus pandemic.
One effect of the pandemic on 2020 university applications has been the number of applicants being given a place at a relatively late stage in the process. Around 14,000 applicants have been placed since SQA results day on 4 August compared with 10,380 during the same period last year.
Commenting on figures across the whole of the UK, Clare Marchant, UCAS Chief Executive, said:
“As students are starting their new courses across the country, these numbers confirm the enduring appeal and welcome of our outstanding universities and colleges.
“They, along with schools, UCAS, and organisations across the entire education sector, have worked tirelessly in recent months to provide reassurance and flexibility to applicants, and ensure access to the best opportunities possible.”
There was also good news today for students from the most disadvantaged parts of Scotland. The UCAS figures show a 5% increase in applicants from these areas, a development that will be seen as a welcome sign of further progress towards fairer access to higher education.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has allocated a further £3.6 million of Scottish Government funding to enhance student counselling services in colleges and universities across Scotland.
The allocation is part of a £20 million, four-year investment in mental health counselling for students. Last year saw initial Scottish Government funding of £3.6 million together with an additional £100,000 for SFC to support the set-up of the programme over its first two years. So far, almost 60 new full time equivalent counsellors have been appointed at colleges and universities across Scotland.
The money announced today is for the coming academic year and will provide additional professional counsellors, helping to ensure students can get the right help when and where they need it. Colleges and universities are also being encouraged to take advantage of some of the mental health care innovations which allow students to access support remotely, including online counselling.
The allocation comes as colleges and universities get ready for the beginning of the new academic year, and students prepare to come to terms with the uncertainties created by the pandemic.
Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of many new and returning students. It is vital that every student can access the mental health support they need.
“The funding and guidance announced today for the academic year 2020/21 by the Scottish Funding Council is another significant milestone in delivering our 2018 Programme for Government commitment to more than eighty additional counsellors in further and higher education over four years.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“I am delighted the Scottish Funding Council is funding these vital student counselling services. This can be an anxious time for new and returning students in terms of travel, accommodation, how teaching will work, and their own health as well as the health of friends and family. This funding for student counselling services aims to support good mental health and wellbeing at this particularly difficult time.”
Institutions such as Forth Valley College took advantage of the extra money in 2019-20 to increase the availability of their counselling services. At Forth Valley College, three new support counsellors were recruited at the end of April, which also allowed the College to provide counselling services at all three of its campuses.
Kenny MacInnes Vice Principal Learning and Student Experience at Forth Valley College, said:
“The extra funding we received earlier this year, allowed us to offer new counselling provision which was a very welcome addition to the services provided by our Student Services and the wider Equalities, Inclusion and Learning Services team.
“Our counselling provision has always been very heavily requested and due to increased demand our counselling service, at times, has been put under significant pressure, resulting in extended waiting times and delays in appointments.
“This initiative has allowed us to expand the service and, create one that is flexible to our students’ needs and I am sure the new available funding will help more colleges and universities to do the same.”
In its guidance for the use of the new money, SFC has emphasised the need for a flexible approach to providing counselling which reflects the diversity of the student population and the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus pandemic.
Revised guidance for colleges, universities and student accommodation providers reflecting the latest public health advice has been published.
It builds on previous guidance and uses the most up-to-date evidence to support universities, colleges and accommodation providers plan for a safe return to campus in the new academic year. It includes:
- A continuation of blended learning, with significantly reduced frequency and numbers of staff and students on campus compared to pre-COVID levels.
- A requirement to keep face-to-face teaching to small groups, generally less than 30 and supported by other infection prevention control measures. Group numbers of up to 50 students may be considered in some circumstances, but only where supported by a risk assessment.
- Advice that face coverings should be worn in any area on campus where physical distancing cannot be guaranteed, on dedicated college and university transport and in student accommodation indoor communal areas such as toilets, common rooms and laundry rooms.
- A requirement for colleges and universities to give clear information on regulations and guidance to students arriving from outside Scotland, and to take steps to ensure international students and staff who need to quarantine comply with the law, including using appropriate disciplinary procedures.
The start of the student year will be fundamentally different this year with significant change to the delivery of education and a need to dramatically curtail the socialising many would associate with this period. For the protection of public health the Scottish Government has stressed the importance of ensuring the guidance is complied with.
Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland, National Union of Students (NUS), trades unions and public health professionals were consulted on the guidance.
Scottish Water and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) are working together on a £3.5 million initiative to make Scotland a world leader in water industry research. The money, which comes from Scottish Water, will be a catalyst for academic research and innovation led by the newly-created post of Scotland Hydro Nation Chair in Water.
From today, Scottish universities are being invited to submit bids to host the project. Funding to support the Hydro Nation Chair in Water post and its associated activities will be spread over six years. The aim is to accelerate progress towards Scotland becoming a sustainable Hydro Nation. According to the bid document, this means transforming the way the water sector operates to make a positive contribution to Scotland’s climate change goal of attaining net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
New research and innovation stimulated by the creation of a Scotland Hydro Nation Chair in Water will also work towards ensuring that people across the whole of Scotland will continue to enjoy access to high quality drinking water. Other areas of research will include the recycling of waste water and ways of enhancing the natural environment.
Simon Parsons, Scottish Water’s Director of Strategic Customer Service Planning, said:
“Scottish Water has set out an ambitious strategy and we are pleased to be working with the Scottish Funding Council to identify ambitious academic partners to help support our journey to net zero emissions and service excellence while providing great value for our customers.”
Dr Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Scotland’s universities have a global reputation for the quality of their research and innovation, the results of which play an incredibly important part in our everyday lives. I am confident that establishing a leadership post in research and innovation for water will inspire new discoveries, some of which will be crucial to tackling the climate emergency.”
Proposals are being invited from both individual universities and from groups of universities collaborating to meet the objectives of the Hydro Nation initiative. Universities will submit their proposals by 25 September and their bids will be assessed by a panel of experts in October.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today issued special guidance to universities.
The move comes in response to the decision by the Cabinet Secretary for Education on 11 August to award grades for 2020 SQA Highers and Advanced Highers according to teachers’ estimates. The Scottish Government subsequently committed to making provision for those with the required grades to have a place at college or university.
According to initial analysis, the 2020 pass rate for Highers is up by over 14%, with the Advanced Higher Pass rate increasing by 13.7%.
Today’s guidance recognises that universities will have made admission decisions based on the initial results published by the SQA on 4 August. Many applicants rejected on the basis of those results now hold upgraded awards which meet universities’ entry requirements. The Scottish Government is therefore removing financial penalties for universities’ over-recruitment of full-time Scottish or EU students.
The Scottish Funding Council has confirmed it will fund all increases in Scottish full-time undergraduate admissions resulting from the national increases in exam pass rates, providing that universities fill their existing funded places for 2020-21. SFC will also continue to fund the places of this larger intake of students as they move through their four of five year degree programmes.
The Scottish Government has also removed the current cap on the number of students enrolling for health related subjects such as medicine, nursing and midwifery.
The universities admissions service, UCAS, will provide SFC with information on admissions to individual universities. Universities will also be asked to provide SFC with regular enrolment updates.
Further information on today’s announcement.
Universities in Scotland are being invited to put forward projects to take advantage of up to £60m of low interest loans from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). To help combat the effects of Covid-19, one of the themes for proposals will be initiatives to help universities adapt to a post Covid-19 environment. The other key theme in response to the Climate Emergency is managing the development of university buildings to tackle carbon reduction while also making them work better for students.
The Scottish Funding Council will prioritise bids that widen their impact through partners with other universities or colleges.
Suggested proposals include:
- Shared buildings/facilities for learning, especially those which catalyse other sources of funding.
- Reducing the university carbon footprint.
- Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the estate.
- Adjustments to buildings to respond to Covid-19 and/or improve the student experience.
Universities will have until December to develop their proposals and submit them to SFC.
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council said:
“The £60 million loan funding announced today will help universities adapt campuses and provision across Scotland, to tackle the challenges of climate emergency, sustainability, and Covid-19. We are looking for strong and innovative proposals that will secure change, while supporting an excellent student experience.”
You can find the call for proposal on the SFC website.
A new £5 million fund has been created to help colleges and universities tackle digital exclusion among disadvantaged students, the Scottish Funding Council has announced.
The cash is being made available to institutions to help bridge the “digital divide” by providing additional support for Scotland’s most disadvantaged students with the digital devices they need to access learning.
The funding is in addition to a range of recent additional support for Scotland’s colleges and universities in their fight against the effects of Covid-19, which includes £75 million to protect world-leading university research, £10 million for estates development, and early access to £11.4m of Higher Education Hardship Funds.
Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to doing everything we can to help all our learners weather the impact of the coronavirus crises.
“I know this has been a huge challenge for many – but I hope this £5m Digital Fund will go some way to easing the pressures, by helping thousands of learners to access the necessary computer resources they need to continue with their studies.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said that the investment would help students facing hardship with the costs of taking part in online learning:
“This digital fund will support disadvantaged learners across Scotland to study online, with computers they might otherwise have been unable to buy themselves – vital help when money is tight and access to digital learning is more important than ever.”
Tim Frew, CEO YouthLink Scotland, the national agency for youth work, said:
“All steps to mitigate the impact of coronavirus are very welcome. This fund will address the digital barriers faced by many young learners in the community and promote digital inclusion. We are delighted to be working with CLD partners, Lead Scotland and WEA in getting this resource to where the need is greatest.”
Matt Crilly, NUS Scotland President said:
“Today’s announcement is very welcome. As students and apprentices return to a blended model of learning, it is more important than ever that they have access to the laptops, internet, and equipment that they will need to succeed in their studies.
“Investment in digital support is positive news for students across Scotland, particularly as we see a rise in the number of working class students gaining a place in further and higher education this year, for whom the cost of learning is often the greatest.”
Full details of today’s announcement can be found on our website.
This August, Interface is celebrating its 15th anniversary with news of a record number of partnerships and research and development projects. Since Interface was established in 2005 to bridge the gap between the worlds of business and academia, Interface has brought together over 3,271 company and academic partners, resulting in 2,375 research and development projects. In the last year alone (up to July 2020) 329 research and development projects have been successfully brokered following introductions by Interface – the highest figure in any single year since the service was launched.
Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Interface has been funded by the Scottish Funding Council since its creation and we are proud to have been able to support its impact on business innovation across many sectors of the economy throughout Scotland. Combining expertise and talent from universities and colleges with ideas and knowledge from progressive companies will be an important part of Scotland’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, making the work of Interface more important than ever.”
Richard Lochhead, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, said:
“The team at Interface continues to play a significant role in establishing long-lasting collaborations between businesses and academia delivering a range of social, environmental and economic impacts.
“What it has achieved in its first 15 years is impressive, and has enabled many productive partnerships helping Scottish companies and organisations to flourish and scale up, and I look forward to seeing many more achievements from them in future.”
Dr Siobhán Jordan, Interface’s founding director, established the service with a “blank sheet” after recognising the potential for greater collaborations between businesses and universities.
“Many industry led challenges have been solved over the past 15 years through partnerships we have brokered and it is humbling to see how the outcomes have truly made a difference to day-to-day life socially and economically. The impacts from the connections we have enabled are far reaching and brought interest and recognition from around the world. Crucially this has enabled Scottish companies to grow and scale; access new markets, expand workforces and increase turnover, whilst often bringing positive impacts on communities and individuals.”