Infantry soldiers across the UK and those who settle in Scotland will be able to more easily match their military training qualifications to employers’ needs and study requirements in Scotland, thanks to a new resource launched by Veterans’ Minister Graeme Dey.
Until now British Army infantry qualifications have been mapped to the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) – the framework that is used in England and Northern Ireland. Now, for the first time, infantry qualifications have been matched to their comparable Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level, used by learners, employers, colleges and universities in Scotland.
Mr Dey joined Aileen Ponton, the Chief Executive of the SCQF Partnership, and Colonel Sandy Fitzpatrick, Deputy Commander of 51 Brigade & Army Headquarters Scotland, to launch the new resource at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.
During the visit Mr Dey got a taste for the quality and diversity of British Army infantry qualifications, meeting soldiers completing the Junior (Corporal) Command Leadership and Management and Arabic courses at the barracks.
Mr Dey said:
“I have seen at first hand the range of valuable skills, experience and expertise that veterans bring to workplaces across Scotland.
“However, I am aware that the process of translating the skills and qualifications that are gained from service into the language of the employment marketplace outside the Armed Forces can sometimes be a struggle.
“This is why the Scottish Government has strongly supported this important work by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Partnership, aided by continued funding from the Scottish Funding Council.
“This work will not only help provide those leaving service with a smoother transition into civilian life, it will help employers – at all scales and across all sectors – access these skills and enhance their businesses.”
Colonel Sandy Fitzpatrick said:
“The recognition of British Army infantry qualifications by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is an important step in helping our infantry service leavers and veterans demonstrate just how valuable they are to prospective employers across Scotland.
“We believe that the high quality of these qualifications along with the many other benefits that veterans offer employers, such as their ability to problem solve, work as a team and their self-discipline makes them twice the citizen and employee.
“This recognition will greatly improve soldiers’ transition from military to civilian life and better demonstrate the high-quality training and qualifications provided to the infantry of the British Army.”
Ms Ponton said:
“The SCQF Partnership is delighted to be working with Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council, the MoD and a wide range of partners to deliver greater recognition for the skills and qualifications held by services personnel.
“We see this work as helping employers and educational institutions understand the range of skills and expertise that those leaving the forces have to offer, and in addition support individuals to articulate their skills clearly in order to find employment or education which will add value to them and improve Scotland’s economic future.”
The mapping project was completed by the SCQF Partnership, with funding from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) following a recommendation of the Scottish Veterans’ Commissioner’s report on Employability and Education.
The SCQFP has been working with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to review its qualification matrices for all three of its Armed Services and has been examining all qualifications as well as speaking to key awarding bodies to ensure as many of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force qualifications are either mapped or where possible, officially recognised on the SCQF.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), together with the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate, is to invest up to £10 million in Scotland’s Digital Health and Care Institute (DHI).
Launched in 2013, DHI is an industry-led innovation centre, and a collaboration between the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Strathclyde (its host institution). It employs experts in service development, technology and product design to work alongside universities, colleges, manufacturers as well as the NHS, charities and other health and social care organisations.
Focusing on new ways to manage illness and provide care, DHI has amassed over 60 project partners and a portfolio of over 120 projects, in the last five years. These include a project with the University of Abertay, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Macmillan which uses artificial intelligence to predict the service needs of people living with cancer. As recently as July the Institute announced a service innovation, using camera pill technology and a managed service, to aid clinicians working in gastroenterology services.
The Digital Health and Care Institute’s newest commercial collaboration is with IBM. Together they are looking at how technology can be used to help people make better health and lifestyle choices. The project also includes ways to support health and care providers plan and deliver better services.
Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead said:
“Our culture of innovation in health and care is rightly recognised on the world stage. This funding of up to £10 million will help further the vital work of the Digital Health and Care Institute to harness data and technology, with benefits for people all over the world.
“By creating and fostering links between academia, public services and industry we can drive progress towards Scotland’s national aims as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The Digital Health and Care Institute is unique in its ability to bring together world-leading industry and academic expertise and direct their efforts towards real-world challenges in caring for people’s health and wellbeing. It has an outstanding record of finding the right partners, supporting collaboration and being genuinely innovative.
“I am delighted we are able to continue our investment and am confident of the positive impact this will have on people and communities.”
DHI’s Chief Executive, Professor George Crooks OBE, said:
“I welcome the decision by the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government to continue to invest in the DHI. Scotland is recognised as being an international leader in digital health and care innovation which not only benefits the people of Scotland by securing new and improved health and care services that are fit for the future but benefits the economy of Scotland by creating opportunities for Scottish businesses and generates inward investment into our country.
“The team at DHI have amassed a significant amount of knowledge and expertise in this field which we will continue to make available to all involved in the health and care sector. By bringing together academia, industry, health and care providers, service users and their families to innovate together, we can secure a better future for us all.”
University researchers across Scotland are set to benefit from a renewed commitment to their professional development.
Launched today at the annual conference of Universities UK, the Researcher Development Concordat is designed to help improve the research environment and create the conditions for research talent to flourish.
Over 1,000 individuals and organisations across the UK have contributed to defining the new concordat. Amongst its first signatories are the Scottish Funding Council, UK Research and Innovation and Cancer Research UK.
Under the new concordat, research institutions will be expected to provide staff with opportunities to develop their research identity and broader leadership skills. There is also an obligation for researchers themselves to engage with these opportunities. As part of the agreement, organisations signing the concordat will publish an annual report measuring their progress in implementing its requirements.
According to the concordat’s proponents, it will play a vital role in improving the security of employment for researchers by reducing the use of fixed, short term contracts and introducing flexible criteria for maternity and paternity benefits.
Stuart Fancey, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The new concordat points the way to a more inclusive approach to professional development for Scotland’s researchers, strengthening our globally significant research community while supporting Scotland’s Fair Work Action Plan. SFC looks forward to working with Scotland’s universities to help the concordat bring maximum benefit to researchers and their employers.”
Drs Anjali Shah and Alison Tidy, co-chairs of the UK Research Staff Association, said:
“Researchers welcome the publication of the revised Researcher Development Concordat because it sets out expectations for all key parties to together create the more supportive and inclusive culture necessary for conducting excellent research. We particularly appreciate the expectation of time and opportunities for researchers to develop their research identity and broader leadership skills, which should support their success in a wide range of careers.”
The Researcher Development Concordat is now available online.
A plan to address skills gaps and shortages in Scotland’s workforce has been launched by Business, Fair Work and Skills Minister Jamie Hepburn.
The Future Skills Action Plan highlights what action the Scottish Government intends to take in order to increase upskilling and retraining opportunities, address skills gaps, implement the climate emergency skills action plan and develop skills investment plans in each region.
Developed through close collaboration between SFC, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Government, the plan accepts and endorses the recommendations made by the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board in its 2018 Strategic Plan and outlines the Scottish Government’s vision for Scotland’s skills system.
Key actions for SFC include working with SDS and the Scottish Qualifications Authority to develop and promote a clear definition of meta-skills, and fully implement the joint 5 stage skills alignment planning model.
Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said:
“Scotland’s highly skilled workforce ensures we are an ambitious, productive and competitive nation.
“While we already have a strong skills system in place, further change is needed to enable us to move forward confidently. This includes considering what skills provision is required and how we ensure the system is both agile and sustainable.”
SFC Chief Executive Karen Watt said:
“This is a forward-looking plan which sharpens our vision for Scotland’s future skills needs. Building on the recommendations of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, it shows how we can work together to create a skills system that matches Scotland’s ambitions for future economic prosperity.”
The Future Skills Action Plan is available online.
The Scottish Government has committed £90m to fully fund the College portion of a new joint learning campus in Dunfermline, which will bring together pupils, students and staff at Woodmill High, St Columba’s High School and Fife College in modern, fit for purpose and low carbon facilities.
DFM John Swinney made the announcement yesterday in Dunfermline, where he met Woodmill High Headteacher Sandy McIntosh, school students being accommodated at Fife College and representatives of Fife College and Fife Council.
The new campus could be ready by the end of 2024, with an estimated cost is between £150 million and £180 million. The Scottish Government has confirmed it will invest up to £90 million in capital to fund the College portion of the campus, and up to 50% of the overall cost for the schools element.
Mr Swinney said:
“Woodmill High School was devastated by the fire and it is clear that Fife Council, Fife College and surrounding schools have made a tremendous effort to find alternative accommodation and minimise disruption to pupils’ learning.
“Since the fire ten days ago, I accelerated discussions with Fife Council and Fife College and I am now very pleased to confirm we support the development of a brand new joint learning campus.
“Locating the two schools and Fife College on the same site would give pupils easy access to a greater variety of subjects and qualifications. Schools, colleges and universities are the cornerstones of our communities and a joint campus model will give Dunfermline a hub of high quality, low carbon and digitally enabled facilities.”
College Principal Hugh Hall said:
“The proposals for the new campus, incorporating two High Schools, the College and a University hub are learner-centred, innovative and progressive and will be transformational for education in Scotland.
“The College has been working with Fife Council in formulating the proposals and together we will be moving at pace to take forward proposals to create a unique learning environment in West Fife.”
A new £500,000 funding opportunity is being made available to support research organisations UK-wide to pilot place-based public engagement partnerships and activities.
UKRI’s Enhancing place-based partnerships in public engagement will support capacity building in collaborative, place-based public engagement between research organisations, partner organisations and communities. Projects and partnerships will be driven by a geographically defined community’s need that can be approached by engagement with research and innovation and therefore shape and generate new learning opportunities.
Projects will plan, develop and test ways of working, co-created and in partnership with communities in their defined geography with the aim of embedding community and public engagement with research.
Successful projects will clearly articulate the aims and expectations of the challenges that their project might address including consultation, intelligence gathering, developing capacity, delivery and accountability. Funds may be used to support the scale-up of existing activities, new activities or partnership building activities.
Projects will be led by UK research organisations who are eligible to receive funding from UKRI and will be delivered by collaborative consortia consisting of at least one eligible research organisation and at least one community partner / organisation.
The funding will be allocated based on a single-stage expert review and assessment process, where UKRI expect to make at least 15 awards. Bids should request between £10,000 and up to a maximum of £40,000 pathfinder funding from UKRI to support proposed activities.
The deadline for submitting a full bid to Enhancing place-based partnerships in public engagement is 5pm on Monday 21 October 2019.
For further details on the application and assessment processes visit Enhancing place-based partnerships in public engagement.
Find out more and book tickets
A production put on by graduates from nine Scottish colleges and universities has been honoured at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Billed as a homage to classic coming-of-age movies, ‘The Brunch Club’ picked up the Bright Spark Award from the Scottish Theatre Awards on the Fringe, recognising the talent of the graduates involved.
The Cast
Kieran Bole (D&A College)
Taylor Hall (City of Glasgow College)
Nicole Macari (Queen Margaret University)
Draya Maria (Ayrshire College)
Jamie McGregor (Glasgow Clyde College)
Jarad Rowan (Ayrshire College)
Rudy Punchard (North East Scotland College)
Rhys Watson (Edinburgh College of Art)
The Creative Team
Megan Adair (RCS)
Cara MacDonald (Edinburgh College of Art)
Loui McMaster (North East Scotland College)
Caitlin Park (Ayrshire College)
Samantha Rae (Ayrshire College)
Kathryn Weaving (Edinburgh College of Art)
Shannon White (Perth College)
Put together with the Grid Iron theatre company and the Pleasance theatre, The Brunch Club is the third Fringe show to be put on by the SFC-funded Scottish Drama Training Network (STDN), consisting of 19 Scottish colleges and higher education institutions that provide practical drama training in Theatre, Film, Television and Radio subjects.
Devised with the Network Ensemble and written and directed by Grid Iron Co-Artistic Director Ben Harrison, The Brunch Club traces the origins of teenage cliques from ‘the invention of the teenager’ in the 1940s to how they manifest in the world we live in today. Eight young people gather in a university student union cafe where they form alliances, fall in and out of love, and learn from the friction and energy created between one clique and another.
SDTN is funded by SFC (and hosted by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) to develop and sustain high quality specialist education for stage and screen performance across Scotland, and improving articulation routes for college students in these subject areas.
The Network Ensemble supports acting, performance and technical theatre graduates as they leave training and embark on their professional careers. Supported by leading theatre professionals, the Network Ensemble now produces new work annually for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in association with the Pleasance Theatre Trust.
John Kemp, SFC Director of Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements said:
“We’re thrilled for this year’s graduates and the well-deserved recognition they’ve received with this award. “Scotland has a rich history in the arts and creative education.
“SFC is proud to support that and we wish the graduates all the very best in their future careers.”
Lucy Vaughan, SDTN Director said:
“We’re delighted to receive this ‘Bright Spark’ award with our co-producers, Grid Iron and the Pleasance Futures for this year’s Fringe production, The Brunch Club.
“The Network Ensemble was set up by SDTN in 2017 to showcase emerging talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and to have our initiative recognised and the graduates from our Network Colleges and Institutions celebrated in this way by the Scottish Theatre Award is wonderful and a testament to the talented and creative young people training in Scotland. This award is also for everyone, lecturing staff, students and professional theatre makers, who supported the Network Ensemble on our journey to the Fringe.”
Following a full run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Brunch Club will transfer to the University of the West of Scotland Ayr Campus for performances as part of their Fresher’s Week activities.
For tickets and more information, see: https://sdtn.org/the-network/the-network-2019/.
SDTN Colleges and Higher Education Institutions:
Ayrshire College, City of Glasgow College, Dundee and Angus College, Edinburgh College, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh Napier University, Fife College, Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow Kelvin College, Inverness College UHI, New College Lanarkshire, North East Scotland College, Perth College UHI, Queen Margaret University, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, University of the West of Scotland, West College Scotland.
Scottish universities are set to receive £11.8m for their work through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) this year.
The GCRF is a £1.5 billion UK fund to support cutting-edge research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.
This year £11.8m in GCRF funding has been allocated to SFC by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), up from £2m in 2017-18.
Since 2016-17 GCRF has supported more than 400 projects led by Scottish universities, involving over 70 developing countries.
These include the development of an award-winning, low cost ophthalmology tool for health care workers in under-resourced countries (St Andrews), interdisciplinary research into the implications of teaching in English or native languages (University of Glasgow), and ongoing research into simple treatment systems to ensure safe drinking water for people and livestock (Robert Gordon University).
SFC Director of Research & Innovation Dr Stuart Fancey said:
“Our strategy to support Scotland’s world-leading research includes an ambition to increase the global reputation and standing of our universities, through international connections and collaborations.
“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.”
“The national and international dimensions to poverty and inequality are interlinked. Scotland cannot act with credibility overseas, if we are blind to inequality here at home. And our ambitions for a fairer Scotland are undermined, without global action to tackle poverty, promote prosperity and to tackle climate change.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Scotland’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Scottish Government has committed up to £500,000 to fund new business and academic partnerships to tackle climate change and assist Scotland’s transition to a net-zero emissions economy.
The funding, which will be administered by the Scottish Funding Council, is an immediate response to the First Minister’s recent declaration of a global climate emergency, and is aimed at project partnerships that can bridge technological innovation with societal and consumer behavioural change.
Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to responding to the global climate emergency and to taking advantage of the opportunities a greener, more sustainable economy will create, as we work towards our target of net-zero emissions by 2045.
“We know this is a multi-faceted challenge requiring thinking beyond and across traditional disciplines. That’s why I’m delighted to launch this new fund to bring together our brightest minds across business and academia to enable Scotland to continue to lead the way in tackling climate change”.
SFC is now seeking innovative proposals demonstrating how partnerships will urgently respond to the change in pace in tackling climate change, and accelerate the transition of the Scottish economy to net-zero.
SFC Chief Executive Karen Watt said:
“With its innovative college and university sectors, Scotland is well placed to seize the economic advantages of leading the world to net-zero, and we encourage all institutions to consider how their specialist expertise could be matched with business to create local and international impact. We also welcome proposals including social or not-for-profit enterprises, and look forward to receiving innovative funding proposals from the sector.”
Funding proposals must be submitted by 24 October 2019.
For more details, please see the Announcement Climate Emergency Collaboration Challenge – Call for Proposals.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is delighted to be investing in a new three-year programme, Economic Futures, led by the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde Business School. This Scotland-wide initiative will create more opportunities for students interested in a career as an applied economist. Any student studying for an economics or economy-related degree is eligible.
The funding will support work placements for undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain experience in an applied economics capacity in academic, public policy or business.
Training events with leading applied economists will be run throughout the year focussing upon the toolkit of an applied economist including policy evaluation, economic modelling and data analysis.
The first round of work placements – to fill opportunities at the University of Stirling, the Fraser of Allander Institute, the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Scottish Funding Council – attracted over 70 outstanding applications for the eight posts on offer.
Professor Graeme Roy, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute and one of the project leads on Economic Futures, said,
“Across Scotland, there is a growing demand for skilled economists to work in an applied public policy and business environment.
“Economics is the study of almost everything we care about in society. Take a look around the world today and you’ll see major challenges which have economics at their core, whether that be rising income inequalities, globalisation or climate change.
“This exciting new Scottish Funding Council initiative will help support the next generation of economists with the knowledge, transferable skills and experience to help shape Scotland’s future.”
Economic Futures is a strategic investment by the Scottish Funding Council to support the development of applied economics capacity in Scotland. It is run by the Fraser of Allander Institute and the Project Leads are Graeme Roy and Mairi Spowage.
2019 Work Placements (Phase 1)
Scottish Fiscal Commission
Gary Mullins, University of St Andrews
Project: House Prices
Michaela Vahovska, University of Glasgow
Project: Income Tax
Fraser of Allander Institute
Sophie Eales White, University of Edinburgh
Project: Subjective Wellbeing
Julia Robbie, University of Strathclyde
Project: Impact of the Scottish Professional Football League clubs on the Scottish economy
Scottish Funding Council
Callum McGrath, University of Edinburgh
Project: Investment in Post-School Education
Christopher Arrowsmith, Heriot-Watt University
Project: Funding for Access and Retention
University of Stirling
Mairi McHale, University of St Andrews
Project: O*NET Project
Ewan Thomson, University of Dundee
Project: HAGIS Project
Scottish universities have made a commitment to offer undergraduate places to care experienced applicants who meet minimum entry requirements.
The guarantee, which has no upper age limit, was announced at Glasgow Caledonian University and was supported by Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon; the principals of Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of St Andrews; and potential care experienced applicants for the next cycle of undergraduate admissions.
The guaranteed offer comes at a time when undergraduate degree places are in high demand with, on average, only half of applications likely to result in an offer. The decision reflects Scottish universities’ belief that it is important to recognise the context in which care experienced applicants have achieved their qualifications.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“I warmly welcome this commitment to guarantee a place at university for care-experienced students who meet the new entry requirements.
“Education is by far the most effective means we have of improving the life chances of our young people. I am firmly committed to widening access to higher education and ensuring that all learners, regardless of their background, have an equal chance of entering university.
“It is important that every young person has access to the learning that will provide them with the skills and qualifications they need to meet their aspirations and succeed in life.”
The guarantee recognises the often very challenging circumstances in which people with care experience achieve their qualifications and the link that is known to exist between their life experiences and educational attainment. At the moment only 4% of looked-after school leavers go directly into higher education compared to 41% of all school leavers.
Duncan Dunlop, CEO of Who Cares? Scotland said:
“We welcome the guaranteed offer as it recognises that the barriers care experienced people face in accessing higher education can be felt lifelong. The fact that the guaranteed offer has no upper age limit demonstrates a commitment by universities to seek out ways to support care experienced learners beyond the statutory requirement of age 26.”
For more details see the Universities Scotland website.
The Can Do Innovation Summit, VentureFest Scotland’s headline event, is now open for registration.
The summit will be held on 20 November at the Glasgow Science Centre. With over 30 speakers, interactive workshops and an innovation showcase, the event aims to help businesses maximise their potential by adopting new technologies and business cultures.
The keynote speakers at the event will be Jenn Gustetic, programme executive for the Small Business Innovation Research programme at NASA. Alongside Jenn will be Morgan Walker from LEGO’s Creative Play Lab. Originally from Glasgow, Morgan works with companies like Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment and Apple in digital play technology and gaming.
VentureFest is led by Glasgow City of Science and Innovation and supported by the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other Scotland Can Do partners.
You can register now on the Scotland Can Do website.
Scotland’s Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn has launched year three of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) with a further £10 million investment.
Eligible employers can use the FWDF to address priority skills gaps in their organisation by accessing up to £15k in funding to create tailored training programmes with their local college.
Mr Hepburn said:
“As a Government we are working hard to ensure our economy, employers and employees are fit and ready to respond to the changing needs of business and emerging economic demands. We are committed to creating a more successful country and opportunities for people living in Scotland whilst creating sustainable and inclusive growth.
“I am delighted to launch year three of our innovative and unique Flexible Workforce Development Fund – investing a further £10m. The fund is an important initiative to enable Scottish employers, who are subject to the UK Apprenticeship Levy, to access funding to upskill and re-skill their existing workforce.”
SFC Chief Executive, Karen Watt, said:
“This fund has a strong track record of benefitting employers, employees and colleges alike. It is fantastic to see further investment going in to helping Scotland address its skills gaps, and we strongly encourage employers to look into how they could take advantage of this opportunity.”
Colleges Scotland Chief Executive Shona Struthers said:
“It’s terrific news that colleges will continue to exclusively administer and deliver the £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) in its third year. This programme is forging closer relationships between colleges and levy-paying employers, which is hugely beneficial to the learners, businesses, and colleges.
“The training and development colleges are providing through FWDF is hugely important in upskilling and retraining existing workforces and filling identified skills gaps. The Fund is also equipping learners to keep pace with emerging technologies and changing markets, so it has been an immensely positive development for the college sector in Scotland, and the increase in uptake in Year 2 compared to the first year, outlines its growing significance.”
For more information, including a list of college contacts for interested applicants, please see SFC’s Flexible Workforce Development Fund page.
As part of our commitment to ensuring that our education and skills system is meeting the needs of employers and the economy, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today (10 July) published guidance for Scotland’s universities on a new £6m funding stream aimed at helping them to develop and offer short, flexible provision for employees to upskill and reskill, including provision of in-work learning.
The funding stream will support universities to build on already established relationships with employers, tapping into employer intelligence and using relevant curriculum content, to explore a range of models, including both existing and new material, which will meet the changing needs of Scotland’s economy.
Recognising that people seeking to change careers will have different needs and different levels of prior education, and different professions or sectors of the economy will have different requirements, we are encouraging the sector to work in partnership to develop a range of diverse delivery models, minimising duplication by geography, delivery method and curriculum area.
While universities are being encouraged to think creatively about how best to develop new models, the following broad parameters will apply:
- New provision should be shorter in duration – usually significantly shorter – than a full academic year.
- New provision should be flexible in terms of start date.
- New provision should address a particular unmet skills need.
Launching the new funding stream, Director of Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements John Kemp said:
“The world of work and learning is changing and we need to be ready for it. We know that technology will change job roles, skills needs and the way we live our lives.
“This means supporting colleges and universities to work with businesses to expand their work-based learning and to create a more agile, dynamic and responsive skills and education system. With this new fund we will be supporting universities to build on the good work they are already doing to meet the needs of employers and employees to upskill and reskill.”
A funding programme which helps business collaborate with Scotland’s universities and colleges has awarded over £6 million to boost innovation.
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and administered by Interface, Innovation Vouchers offer a range of grants to help businesses offset the cost of collaborating with Scotland’s higher and further education institutes.
The funding can lead to positive impacts on business development with new products, processes and services. It also enhances university research through its application in real-world scenarios.
This month marks a key milestone for the funding programme, where more than 1,200 Standard Innovation Vouchers, with a value of up to £5,000 each, have been paid over the past seven years to support company-led innovations developed in partnership with a college or university. On top of this, 57 follow-on projects funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, have resulted in additional funding of £700,000 in the same time period.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Richard Lochhead said:
“Research and innovation are fundamental to create sustainable and inclusive growth.
“I very much welcome this milestone as evidence of the key role Innovation Vouchers and Interface play in creating additional value from the Scottish Government’s investment in our universities, colleges, innovation centres and research institutes to the benefit of businesses.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Innovation Vouchers play a vital role in connecting small and medium sized businesses with the knowledge and expertise in our colleges and universities. Across key industry sectors like energy, food and drink and tourism collaborations brought about through these vouchers have created new products, provided new services and supported new jobs.”
Dr Siobhàn Jordan, Director of Interface, said:
“This funding has enabled these businesses to further develop or enhance a commercial product or service or improve productivity through the creation of a new business process. That’s an incredible £6.7 million that has been paid out to support business innovation in Scotland over the past seven years alone.”
Recent changes to the Innovation Voucher Programme – including a new Workforce Innovation Voucher to support innovation to develop a company’s workforce – have introduced greater flexibility to all eligible Scottish Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and a greater financial incentive to businesses to deepen their collaborations with their academic partner.
One such business that has benefited from the funding stream is Welbot, which was created to combat the ill effects of sedentary computer-bound working practices, in particular reducing employee stress and fatigue and helping manage musculoskeletal issues and general health through positive behaviour change. The company were matched by Interface to three universities to look at occupational stress, wellbeing in the workplace, and behaviour change in a technology setting, which helped the business develop and launch a commercial product.
Commenting on the level of support they have received from Interface, Welbot CEO Mykay Kamara, said:
“It’s amazing how much Interface have achieved in supporting us, especially with links to universities, across all the areas of expertise.”
Further information on Innovation Vouchers can be found on the Interface website.
Full case study on Welbot’s collaborations with universities.
The Scottish Funding Council has today, 10 July 2019, launched a consultation seeking views on the policy and funding allocations from its Widening Access and Retention Fund (WARF).
In support of our commitment to creating a genuinely level playing field where further and higher education is accessible to all, SFC allocates funding to universities with a high intake from Scotland’s most deprived areas (SIMD20) and where retention rates tend to be lower. The funding is intended to support the successful outcomes of students from the most disadvantaged and deprived backgrounds, with the ultimate aim being to secure equalised retention rates.
Given the progress already being made on widening access to higher education, with 2017-18 results showing that 15.6% of first degree entrants to university were from SIMD20, up from 13.8% in 2016-17, SFC is reviewing the funds to ensure they are fit for purpose to deliver the implementation of the Commission for Widening Access (CoWA) recommendations.
Dr John Kemp, Director of Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements said: “The intensification of Outcome Agreements and the implementation of the Blueprint for Fairness are achieving positive change. We therefore need to ensure that these funds are having the greatest possible impact, particularly in relation to progression and outcomes. We look forward to receiving feedback from a wide range of stakeholders to help us develop the fund in a way that ensures this positive progress continues.”
A copy of the consultation can be found at WARF Consultation.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), supported by Salix Finance, is launching a £19m programme aimed at boosting investment in energy efficiency across Scotland’s higher education institutions. The programme will provide accessible support and finance for carbon reduction throughout the sector and build capacity for funding in additional years, to benefit both students and staff.
The funding from the Universities for the Future programme, which is accessible to all universities in Scotland, will be allocated by SFC over the next two financial years. All universities within Scotland are invited to make use of the funding which will support several initiatives, including collaboration between public sector bodies, reduced maintenance backlogs through energy efficiency projects, and improved student experience through modernised estates.
The programme will support a wide range of technologies, including building fabric improvements, efficient heating upgrades and the reduction of carbon emissions in laboratories, with Salix supporting SFC through the recommendation of applications.
David Beards, Senior Policy Officer at SFC, said:
“This programme is aimed at helping Scottish universities with projects that lower their carbon footprint, as well as increasing their energy efficiency and enhancing students’ learning environment. It is a timely and significant opportunity for universities to take advantage of, following the First Minister’s recent declaration of a climate emergency, and we look forward to receiving innovative bids from the sector in partnership with Salix.”
Jennifer Roberts, Programme Manager for Scotland at Salix, said:
“We are pleased to support the decarbonisation of Scottish universities in partnership with the SFC. It’s never been more important to engage with universities and students on the impact of climate change and to ensure we’re working in partnership to reduce our carbon footprint.”
For further information, please contact the Salix Scotland team on 020 3102 6900.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) welcomes the results of the 2019 National Student Survey (NSS) which were published today.
The survey, the largest of its kind in the world, shows that the overall satisfaction rate with Scottish universities has increased to 84% in comparison with 83% last year.
Martin Fairbairn, Chief Operating Officer of SFC said,
“Student feedback is an important source of intelligence which helps to drive improvements at universities and we therefore welcome this publication.
“It’s encouraging to see that this year’s results show a slight rise in student satisfaction across Scotland as a whole but there is still more that can be done at the level of individual institutions. We will work with our universities to understand how they will use these results as part of their plans to continually enhance the student experience.”
The NSS asks students a range of questions on issues including the quality of teaching, assessment, academic support, organisation and management, resources, and student voice. It complements the College Student Satisfaction Survey which tracks the satisfaction and engagement of college students in Scotland, providing a full picture of student satisfaction across both the further and higher education sectors. The results from the 2018-19 College Student Satisfaction Survey will be published by SFC in October 2019.
University museums – beyond the exhibitions
Visitors to the recent 2019 Fisherfolk Festival in the Easter Ross village of Balintore were amongst the first people to see a unique collection of paintings documenting past life on the Moray Firth.
The exhibition was made possible by the long reach of SFC’s museums, galleries and collections grant. The University of St Andrews, one of the nine Scottish universities to receive the special funding, has been working with the community to restore and display the work of John Paterson, a local fisherman and artist who was born on the Black Isle in 1872.
The oil paintings were discovered by the artist’s grandson who found them when clearing out old fishing stores. As well as self-portraits, the paintings depict villagers and record sea faring communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Paterson family had salmon fishing stations along the east coast of Scotland for over 100 years and John Paterson was a well-known figure from Durness to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Maureen Ross, a director of the Seaboard Centre which hosted the Fisherfolk Festival, said: “When I saw the paintings I recognised the community heritage potential and the endless possibilities this find could have.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “One of the exciting things about our work is that it reaches into so many parts of Scotland’s educational, economic and cultural life. It’s great that some of our funding has helped to save these paintings for future generations and I hope they will be studied and enjoyed for many years to come.”
The ever-increasing speed of economic, political and technological change presents Scotland with significant opportunities over the next 15 to 20 years.
Anticipating what learners, employers, educators, entrepreneurs and innovators will need to support and help them flourish is the focus of new strategic thinking from two high-profile public bodies published today.
In their new Strategic Plans, national skills body Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the agency that allocates funding to colleges and universities, outline actions aimed at using their combined budget of c.£2bn to create a more agile, dynamic and responsive skills and learning system.
With a clear focus on supporting the jobs of the future, SDS has committed to fully utilising technology to deliver its all-age Careers Information Advice and Guidance service in new and innovative ways and to support people through up-skilling and re-skilling initiatives.
It will also help employers grow through the continued expansion of work-based learning opportunities and through the promotion and adoption of innovative workplace practices that drive productivity and fair work.
Alongside its commitment to a more responsive skills system, the SFC will focus on creating a level playing field for access to further and higher education and investing in new research and innovation.
Also central to its strategy for the future is helping to make Scotland even more attractive on a world stage to academic talent and research investment.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney welcomed the plans and commended the agencies on their shared vision for the future and collaborative approach. He said:
“Our nation’s biggest asset is its people so I’m delighted to see Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Funding Council publish ambitious and informed plans which put the needs of individuals at the centre.
“We have much to build on including world-class universities, colleges that lie at the heart of their communities, world-leading, all-age careers information, advice and guidance and innovative work-based learning that responds to the needs of both individuals and business.
“This is exactly the forward thinking and aligned working the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board has demanded and will help meet the ambition for Scotland to become one of the most productive, inclusive and sustainable economies in the world.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our new strategic framework shows how we will invest in Scotland’s future to make our country the best place in the world to learn, educate, research and innovate.
Our close alliance with Skills Development Scotland will be vital to Scotland’s success in developing skills for a changing economy.
This, together with our partnerships with the enterprise agencies and the ability of Scotland’s universities and colleges to adapt and evolve, is the catalyst we need to achieve our collective success.”
Damien Yeates, Chief Executive of SDS, said:
“Such is the pace and scale of economic, demographic, political and technological change, that even our idea of work and skills will be fundamentally different in the coming years.
“Despite the scale of disruption the world faces, Scotland can become one of the most productive, inclusive and sustainable economies, but only if we act now. We need to understand the dimensions of change and learn to leverage our innate human characteristics and strengths.
“Today we’ve set out plans on how we will work with the Scottish Funding Council alongside other local and national partners to meet these global challenges by equipping our people and businesses with the skills to seize opportunities and achieve their full potential.”