This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Corporate plan for further and higher education
22/01/2007
The first Corporate Plan of the new Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) was launched today.
Ahead of a meeting with Scotland's most senior further and higher education figures, First Minister Jack McConnell said lifelong learning is at the heart of the Executive's commitment to create a Scotland where enterprise can flourish and where opportunity exists for all.
The First Minister also said that the creation of this new funding council will provide a firm basis for continued success in post-school learning in Scotland.
He continued:
"Since devolution we have addressed decades of under investment in further and higher education with overall increases in funding of over 53 per cent.
"We have made this significant increased investment because Scotland's future depends on education. At my Futures speech last May I signalled my intention to make our education system the best in the world.
"We have put lifelong learning at the heart of our commitment to create a Scotland where enterprise can flourish and where opportunity exists for all. And I believe this new funding council will provide a firm basis for success in post-school learning in Scotland.
"The new Corporate Plan being launched today is a significant achievement. With this plan in place, the sector will make an even greater contribution to our aim of a more dynamic, entrepreneurial and internationally competitive Scotland."
Mr McConnell said Scotland has always recognised the importance of learning, with universities and colleges among the country's greatest national assets, helping to attract new talent.
The number of international students was now 50 per cent more than five years ago, he said, and in the last year 18 per cent more international undergraduates have been accepted to study in Scottish universities.
Mr McConnell added:
The so-called 'brain-drain' out of Scotland has also been stopped. Eight years ago 79 per cent of young Scots who graduated from Scots Universities stayed in Scotland. Today that figure is 92 per cent. A great achievement - nine out of 10 of our brightest and best staying in Scotland.
"In addition Scotland's universities and colleges provide a supply of skills and knowledge that modern, high value businesses need. They forge important relationships with other institutions of learning across the globe. And they make discoveries which can enhance understanding and well-being.
"The signs of success are highly visible. Today, Scotland ranks third in the world - ahead of the US and Germany - in terms of research publications and citations per capita. And today, our life sciences industry is growing by almost twice the European rate and is continuing to attract some of the world's leading scientists in biotechnology research.
"But of course there is still more we have to do. By working together with with out colleges and universities we have made record achievements. By continuing to work together and successfully implementing this corporate plan we have launched today, I believe Scotland can continue to grow and develop our reputation as a world leader in further and higher education. And I look forward to our continued success."
John McClelland, Chair of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, said:
"I warmly welcome the First Minister's endorsement of the Scottish Funding Council's Corporate Plan.
"In developing our Corporate Plan our ultimate aim is a successful Scotland - and the part the Council, colleges and universities should play in achieving this - is at the heart of our thinking.
"Education, skills and innovation delivered through our colleges and universities will make a major contribution to growing the economy and developing our society."
The SFC was established on October 3, 2005 from the merger of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
In 2007-08 investment in further and higher education stands at £1.6 billion a year, an increase of 53 per cent since devolution.