Do We Have a Learning and Skills Sector in Scotland?

Jim Gallacher

Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning Glasgow Caledonian University

The Policy Context

• Lifelong learning agenda has continued to be more influential in Scotland – skills emphasized, but less dominant than in England

• ‘Learning and Skills’ is not a dominant discourse

• Two policy phases – 1997-2007 Labour and Liberal Democrat Coalition– 2007- Minority Scottish National Government

Policy Context 1997-2009• Key Themes 1997-2007

– Lifelong learning – collaboration – Social inclusion– Skills

• Key Document– Lifelong Learning Strategy (Scottish Executive, 2003)

• Key themes 2007 - – skills with Scot Nat Government – emphasis on ‘sustainable economic

growth’– Skill Utilisation– ‘cradle to grave’ concept of lifelong learning

• Key Document– Skills Strategy 2007

• Continuing Policy frameworks– More Choices More Chances 2006 (NEET Group)– Curriculum for Excellence 2004

The Organisations: The SFC

• Scottish Funding Council for Further & Higher Education (SFC) – established 2005

• Merger of SFEFC (1999) & SHEFC (1992)‘…securing the coherent provision… of a high quality of fundable further… and higher education’

• Funds FE & HE level work in Scotland’s Colleges (43 at present – 3 in process of merger)

• Funding on basis of SUMs (Student Units of Measurement – 40 hours)

• Budget 2009-10– Colleges £630m– HEIs £1669.9m

• Skills Committee now joint with SDS

The Organisations: SQA

• Scottish Qualifications Agency (SQA) established 1998• Merger of:

• Scottish Examinations Board (SEB) & Scottish Vocational Educational Council (SCOTVEC)

• Responsible for:• Developing and validating qualifications• Accrediting qualifications• Approving educational and training establishments• Arrangements for assessments of SQA qualifications• Quality Assurance of educational and training establishments• Issuing Certificates

• SQA Qualifications• National Qualifications: Access level up to Highers & Advanced

Highers• HNC/Ds• Scottish Vocational Qualifiactions (SVQs)• Professional Development Awards (PDAs) and similar

The Organisations: SCQF

• Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) established 2001

• Development Partners• Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)• SQA• Scottish Executive• Universities Scotland• Association of Scotland’s Colleges became partner

The Organisations: SDS

• Skills Development Scotland (SDS) – established 2008• Merger of

• Careers Scotland• Skills elements from Scottish Enterprise & Highlands and Islands Enterprise

(HIE)• Scottish University for Industry (Learndirect; ILA Scotland; The Big Plus)

– National Training Programmes• Modern Apprenticeships – 16+ age group – now extended to SVQ L2• Skillseekers – 16-19 age group – being phased out as MAs extended• Get Ready for work – 16-19• Training for Work – support for unemployed 18 and over

– IAG: Careers Scotland & Learndirect– Funding for Learners: ILAs 200 & 500– Literacy & Numeracy: The Big Plus– Budget for 2008-09: £184.44m– Funding for Training Providers

Students in Scotland’s Colleges by Level of Study

1998-99 2001-02 2007-08

No % No % No %

HE 71,110 17 64,132 12 47,770 13

FE 350,446 83 450,669 88 441,840 87

Total 421,556 514,801 489,610

Source: SFC Infact Database

Students in Scotland’s Colleges by Age

HE FE Total

Under 16 0% 20% 18%

16 - 18 23% 16% 17%

19 - 24 33% 13% 15%

25 - 59 44% 44% 44%

60 -64 0% 3% 3%

65 & over 0% 4% 4%

Source: SFC Infact Database

Students in Scotland’s Colleges by Type of Qualification

No of Students 2001-02 2007-08

HNC 25,469 17,813

HND 17,694 15,855

S/NVQ L5 103 20

S/NVQ L4 821 1520

S/NVQ L3 11,411 17,399

S/NVQ L2 16,782 13,507

S/NVQ L1 2,080 2,308

Source: SFC Infact Database

Top 12 MA Frameworks: Numbers in Training

MA 16-24 Male Female Total

March 1999 9169 1356 10525

July 2005 16147 6071 22218

MA 25+ Male Female Total

April 2002 1708 2762 4470

July 2005 3313 4842 5155

Source: SDS

MAs: Numbers in Training – April 2008-March 2009

Number % Male % Female

16 -19 21,679 85 15

20+ 4,935 78 22

Total 26,614 84 16

Source: SDS

More Choices More Chances

• 16-19 Age group not in education, employment or Training– 2007: 12% of young women, 12% of young men

• Scotland has lowest percentage of 15 -19 year-olds in education or training in OECD - only about 63% compared with OECD average of 83% (OECD 2007).

Scottish domiciled students participation in Colleges and HEIs by level and deprivation quintile

2005-06

College

HE level

College

FE level

HEI

Least deprived quintile

18% 16% 31%

2nd quintile 19% 20% 25%

Middle quintile

19% 21% 19%

4th quintile 22% 21% 15%

Most deprived quintile

22% 22% 10%

Total 100% 100% 100%

SFC 2008

Emerging Issues• Stable funding regime has helped establish a fairly strong

college sector• Role of SQA as a national validating and awarding agency

has been significant• Issues associated with declining HNC/D numbers in

colleges• Despite emphasis on collaboration, and establishment of

organisations to encourage this impact has been limited• Colleges relatively successful in attracting students from

areas of deprivation, but significant numbers remain unqualified

• Impact of SDS remains to be seen• Skills Utilisation requires development and implementation