Our Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges

Digital Ambition for Scotland's Colleges coverThe pdf Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges (1.44 MB)  has been developed by the college sector, for the college sector to provide evidence on the sector’s digital intentions. 

It will enable the sector to support the full range of learners accessing college-based learning platforms across Scotland. It will also ensure that colleges can quickly respond to the changing needs of the labour market and deliver skills for the new economy 4.0. 

The Digital Ambition has been developed and agreed following consultation with the sector and key partners in the digital industry. 

Dr Ken Thomson OBE, Principal of Forth Valley College, was the sector lead and introduces the document:

The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead MSP, shares his thoughts on the Digital Ambition:

Hear what Jason Miles-Campbell, Head of Jisc Scotland and Jisc Northern Ireland, has to say about it:

Hear what Gillian Docherty OBE, Chief Executive Officer, The Data Lab has to say about it:

ScotlandIS has endorsed the publication:

"ScotlandIS are delighted to support the Digital Ambition statement as laid out by Colleges Scotland. ScotlandIS recognises the importance the College sector has to play as part of Scotland's ambition to become a digitally leading and digitally inclusive nation. Colleges are important vehicles of sustainable economic growth across our cities, towns and communities here in Scotland and these aims and ambitions will go a long way to help us realise our digital potential. 

"The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance and need for society as a whole to upskill and reskill. ScotlandIS firmly believe that Colleges are ideally placed to help meet these demands we will require for our future workforce. As always, ScotlandIS and our members stand ready to support our Colleges to become world leaders in digital education."

For further information about the Digital Ambition for Scotland’s Colleges, please contact Tom Hall

College Sector Statement of Ambition Film

College Sector Statement of Ambition

College Sector Statement of Ambition coverA pdf Statement of Ambition (492 KB)  for the college sector was launched on Wednesday 5 December 2018 by Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.

The purpose of the Statement of Ambition is to set out a vision, mission and set of values for the college sector for the next five years (2018-2023). A set of underpinning ambition have also been outlined which will support the achievement of the vision by the sector.

The college sector’s ambitions are wide reaching and appropriately challenging – and rightly so, as the crucial role that colleges play affect all parts of society and the economy, and can only be realised by working in genuine collaboration with our partners.

View the College Sector Statement of Ambition film.

View the Media Release  pdf College Sector Launches its Statement of Ambition - 5 December 2018 (385 KB)

#collegeambition

The value of college graduates to the Scottish economy

Fraser of Allander Institute cover imageScotland’s Colleges Generate £20bn for the Economy

Scotland’s colleges will generate additional value worth £20 billion for the Scottish economy in the long term, according to a new independent study.  

This represents an additional £55,000 boost to productivity in the Scottish economy per graduate over their working lives.

View Fraser of Allander Institute report:
'The value of college graduates to the Scottish economy'


The study by the Fraser of Allander Institute which assesses the value of college graduates, demonstrates the contribution that Scotland’s colleges make to the national and local economy, the benefits that colleges provide and the role that colleges play in helping to achieve the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy.

What is also outlined in the study are the benefits that a college education provides for individuals, including better employment prospects, increased earning potential, a lower likelihood of unemployment and opportunities for upskilling and retraining. There is also evidence to show that education can have a positive effect on health and wellbeing leading to better physical health outcomes and longer life expectancy, improved social mobility and reduced crime.

Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:

“The fact that Scotland’s colleges make a crucial contribution to the economy is well known and this research reinforces the key role that colleges play in delivering faster sustainable economic growth.  The college sector underpins economic activity in Scotland not only through increasing the employability of learners and their earning potential, but also through helping to supply employers with a skilled workforce to increase productivity.

“Colleges are in a unique position to reach businesses, communities and individuals across Scotland, providing a national network with a regional focus and with 26 colleges.  Everywhere from the Outer Hebrides to the Borders, their impact on the economy, both as individual institutions and as a sector, is far-reaching.

“Colleges also contribute to inclusive economic growth by widening access to education and vocational training opportunities and providing vital opportunities that would not otherwise be available, which boost labour market participation. Our colleges contain a broad mix of students in terms of age and background, and have a relatively high proportion of students from more challenging backgrounds. In fact, over 27% of full-time higher education students and 34% of full-time further education students at college were from the 20% most deprived areas and, according to the Sutton Trust, 90% of the growth in Scottish Higher Education participation for disadvantaged students since 2006 has been through college. This demonstrates the important work that colleges do to improve income equality and inclusive growth.

“Colleges are not just vital to more disadvantaged students, but to a wide range of students who feel more able to maximise their potential at college due to the more flexible learning routes and the wide range of professional, technical and vocational training available. The experience of going to college can help learners develop life skills and boost employment prospects which in turn benefits the Scottish economy through a more productive, flexible and skilled workforce.

“The clear message from this study is that it is this skilled workforce that is vital for economic growth as it is a key driver of productivity. It is the college sector who will be central to providing this workforce."

Graeme Roy, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, said:

“Our analysis examines the economic contribution that a cohort of college graduates makes to the Scottish economy over the long-term. By boosting the stock of human capital, the college sector makes an important contribution to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth rate.”

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP, said:
 
“This is a positive report which confirms what we already knew - that college graduates make a huge contribution to the Scottish economy.
 
“It shows that colleges are of great benefit to their graduates individually and that collectively they are delivering the long-term sustainable and inclusive economic growth which is vital to Scotland’s success.”

The overall findings from the report show that for the years studied:

  • The Scottish economy will be better off over £20 billion over the working lives of the college graduates.
  • There will be an additional £55,000 boost to productivity for the Scottish economy per graduate.
  • Scotland’s colleges spent over £663 million to support this economic activity, helping to create jobs and boost economic growth.
  • The investment is also estimated to support 13,896 FTE jobs.
  • The total costs to the public sector of investing in these learners through nationally-recognised qualifications was approximately £2.4 billion – just 35% of the cumulative tax revenues generated over the long-term.
  • The increase in public sector revenues is estimated to be £6.8 billion.
  • In 2015/16, over 227,000 students attended college and are estimated to have achieved 70 million hours or 8,000 years of learning in total.
  • Colleges provide 28% of all higher education level study in Scotland.
  • Scotland’s colleges also directly employ around 11,000 staff across the sector.  As well as the direct impact of providing employment, colleges also create an economic ripple effect through staff and college spending, benefitting local suppliers.

For further information, please contact Joanne Buchan, Public Affairs and Communications Officer by emailing Joanne Buchan.   

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