Transcript Document

‘Higher Education for the social
good. Funding and policy
development in Scotland.’
UALL Conference 2012
University of Cambridge
Rob Mark, Centre for Lifelong Learning,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
Post-16 Education: wider ambitions for
learners in Scotland
1. Green Paper: Building a Smarter Future (2011)
Focus on Further education and skills and community learning & development
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White Paper: Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering our Ambitions for
Post-16 Education (2011)
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To improve people’s life chances by setting them on the road to sustainable
employment
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To ensure everyone including those furthest from the labour market can
contribute to and benefit from growth
Pre-legislative paper: Issues in Post 16
reform
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Competitive global economy demands new and different skills
Need to assist citizens to develop a wide range of skills for life and work
Learner focus
How do sectors interact - colleges, skills and training
Support policy ambitions in a range of areas- health and environment; cities and
economic strategy;
Prioritising need of young Scots disproportionately affected by the recession
Limitations for public spending based on UK Government's contraction of public
spending
Need to maximize return of investment
Seeking a unique Scottish solution
Widening access to HE
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Universities to extend links with schools and colleges
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Start preparing young people much earlier in their school career
‘we acknowledge that they key to widening access lies in transforming the
life chances of children and their families through effective intervention from
pre-birth through to adulthood.’
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‘Targeting’ on widening access to HE to seek out those with greatest potential
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Improving retention and progression
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Maximize the contribution of community learning and development
Other issues related to adult learning
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Breaking the cycle between low-paid work and benefits
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Meeting the demands of adult learners and for workforce development
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developing new models for employer engagement in curriculum planning e.g.
engagement with trade bodies
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Promoting recognised qualifications tested against national standards
employer/vocational needs
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Funding for trade unions to help low paid and low skills workers
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Greater use of new technologies to enhance learner choice, support larger learner
numbers ( including those in work) and to extend geographical reach
to meet
Maintaining Scotland as a Global Leader in
University Research
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Promote environment in which Scotland’s highest quality research is regarded as Internationally
competitive
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Tackling global challenges and engagement with Research Council and
innovation policy
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Development of technological innovation centres
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Consolidate research funding in smaller number of universities
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Exploitation of university research – effective, well aligned and genuinely joined up knowledge
exchange
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Q- Is there an opportunity for Lifelong learning to play a role?
EU research and
Recurring themes and challenges in
Responses to White Paper
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Improving and enhancing the experience of the learner
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Providing for the needs of more vulnerable learner cohorts such as those with
additional support needs
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How best to implement reforms amidst a challenging economic climate with funding
constraints
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Continuous recognition of support for clear and accessible information, advice and
guidance
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New more improved collaborative working across the post-16 landscape to better
serve learners
Fair and Affordable Student Support
Arrangements
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Develop proposals for the simplification of the HE student support system
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Provision of a minimum income guarantee of at least £7,000 for lowest income
students
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New post-graduate student allowance scheme
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Ask SFC to consider introducing funding models for regional universities taking into
account the demography and economy of the region
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Develop new part-time policy proposals considering how we can clarify the balance
between the student and /or institutional support
Funding Proposals Affecting Adult Learners
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Individual Learning Accounts (ILA’s) £200 annually available to eligible
applications for approved training
SG spent £12 million in 2010-11. Estimated 40,000 awards allocated.
SFC looking at allocation of funding for colleges on a regional bias is according to
the level of need amongst key target groups.
Outcome agreements to widen participation with regional groupings of collegescolleges to monitor and report progress in relation to the recruitment and
progression of students who reside in the most deprived areas within a protected
characteristic group.
Outcome agreements to widen participation across the university sector
from 2012-12 – to deliver more efficient progression for learners through further
and higher education –e.g. HN completion rates and progression to align with
planned articulation intake of universities within the region; joint quality assurance
between colleges and universities to assist guaranteed progression;
outcome agreements already exist with post- 1992 institutions – 8 institutions to
deliver 2.4% increase in participation of students from most deprived postcodes
and 6% improvement in their retention.
Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and
Maximizing Impact
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Over past 3 years SFC has developed a clear evolution in policy and strategy on
widening access
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Recognising differences within the sector and contextualising impact SFC wants to
see – institutions are not the same and challenges are different
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Targeting funding to drive certain behaviours
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Ensuring best value and moving from short-term strategic investment to whole
institution commitments to widening access, equality and diversity
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more efficient learning journeys- more coherent and planned provision between
universities and other providers within a region
Your Views?
• Universities Association for Lifelong
Learning (UALL) Submission