Comment on SFC’s Higher Education Students and Qualifiers Report
Commenting on the Scottish Funding Council’s Higher Education Students and Qualifiers 2021-22 Report published today (Tuesday, 8 August 2023), Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:
“The report shows that overall the number of students studying higher education in Scotland is at its highest in 10 years.
“We note that there has been a reduction in the number of students studying HNCs and HNDs in colleges. This can be attributed to a number of factors including the impact of the pandemic and more people choosing to get a job rather than study exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, as well as increasing numbers of students staying on at school and going straight into university.
“Colleges have a fundamental role to play in supporting and facilitating pathways, providing a valued and accessible route into education for many people whilst providing learners with the skills and qualifications to succeed in the workplace.
“Around a quarter of a million people come to college every year to learn new skills and gain qualifications that will get them into great careers, and I would urge anyone to consider choosing college.”
“The report shows that overall the number of students studying higher education in Scotland is at its highest in 10 years.
“We note that there has been a reduction in the number of students studying HNCs and HNDs in colleges. This can be attributed to a number of factors including the impact of the pandemic and more people choosing to get a job rather than study exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, as well as increasing numbers of students staying on at school and going straight into university.
“Colleges have a fundamental role to play in supporting and facilitating pathways, providing a valued and accessible route into education for many people whilst providing learners with the skills and qualifications to succeed in the workplace.
“Around a quarter of a million people come to college every year to learn new skills and gain qualifications that will get them into great careers, and I would urge anyone to consider choosing college.”
