The Scottish Government

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Annex C - Roles and responsibilities

This annex outlines the roles that key organisations in Scotland will play in working towards the aims outlined in this Strategy. The information here was gathered from these organisations during the researching of this document.

The Association of Scotland's College's ( ASC) main role is to support Scotland's 43 colleges, to advance their interests and to represent their views.

In the international context the main responsibilities are to:

• Influence decision makers in Scotland, the UK and Europe to the benefit of the college sector, its students and partners
• Provide the main link with existing stakeholders and support agencies in the international and European context at Scottish and UK level
• Represent colleges at Scottish and UK level through membership of committees
• Support all colleges in their international work.

British Council ( BC) operates in 110 countries and territories worldwide, building relationships, understanding and exchange of expertise between people in the UK and other countries. Their programmes cover a range of areas including education, the arts, science and governance.

Within the Scottish context the main responsibilities of British Council are:

• Using networks and expertise to promote Scottish education and Fresh Talent around the world through the Education UK Scotland initiative in order to recruit international students, encourage exchange of expertise, and facilitate meaningful education partnerships
• Providing market intelligence and in-country assistance to enable Scottish institutions to define their own international strategies and to establish themselves in overseas markets
• Working with institutions and other partners to build our understanding of the experience international students have in Scotland, and enhancing that experience through programmes such as Scottish Networks International, which links international postgraduates of Scottish HE Institutes with Scottish employers through networking events and work placements.

Confederation of British Industry Scotland's ( CBI Scotland) main role is to ensure that all business voices - whatever the size or sector of business - are heard when government is formulating policy or consulting the business community.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• Responding to Scottish Executive consultations
• Development of widely researched policy reports and briefings on a comprehensive range of topics
• Provide members with the opportunity to meet and exchange views and experience with their peers, particularly from outside their own business sector.

Highlands & Islands Enterprise's ( HIE) role in this area is principally to support the development of the post-school education sectors in the Highlands and Islands by building their capacity both as educational institutions and as a driver of the regional economy, thereby contributing to the overall positioning of Scotland as a world leader in international post-school education. This will include, in particular, a determined drive to attract international students and staff to the area to study, research and work, as well as the development of international projects and partnerships, considered essential to sustaining the long-term progress of the Highlands and Islands.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• Assisting the University of the Highlands and Islands ( UHI) to achieve university title and supporting its ongoing development as a first class, internationally-connected, centre of teaching and research in economically significant areas, and as a catalyst to growth in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
• Supporting the contribution of UHI and FE colleges to the region's academic, cultural and creative mix, driving knowledge transfer, research and commercialisation partnerships, and attracting new young people to the area to study, work and live
• Driving the lifelong learning agenda by supporting FE colleges and UHI to provide high quality, relevant and flexible learning provision that meets the needs of learners and employers in the Highlands and Islands and beyond.

HM Inspectorate of Education's main role is to provide independent external evaluations of college activity, contribute to building capacity, and provide professional advice to SE and other bodies.

Within this the main responsibilities in relation to colleges are:

• Reviews on a four year cycle and publication of reports, which make reference to international dimensions as appropriate
• Other activity including professional advice to the Scottish Funding Council under the terms of annual service level agreements
• Professional advice on college matters to SE.

NUS Scotland's main role is to provide an autonomous body to represent students in further and higher education in Scotland. NUS Scotland's work is focused on further and higher education, and the interests of students and their educational environment. They provide a national platform for representation and campaigning, dealing with scores of organisations on a Scottish, UK and international level.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• NUS Scotland has established itself as the voice of students in the Scottish Parliament and has been involved in oral evidence, consultations and the lobbying of MSPs with an international dimension where appropriate
• Other activity including professional advice and policy submissions to the Scottish Executive and other organisations
• NUS Scotland provides services to affiliated student associations such as research and information, welfare and legal services and training and development with an international dimension where appropriate
• NUS Scotland provides advice to international students on a wide range of issues affecting them.

The mission of the Q uality Assurance Agency ( QAA) across the UK is 'to safeguard the public interest in sound standards of higher education qualifications and to inform and encourage continuous improvement in the management of the quality of higher education'.

In this context, QAA Scotland:

• Undertakes cycles of reviews of the maintenance and enhancement of quality and standards in all the higher education institutions which are publicly reported
• Manages (jointly with Universities Scotland) the qualifications framework for higher education institutions in Scotland
• Manages a development programme of enhancement themes
• Advises on matters related to the assurance and enhancement of quality in higher education
• Advises Ministers on the designation of higher education institutions, degree awarding powers and university title.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh ( RSE) is an educational charity, registered in Scotland. Independent and non-party-political, working to provide public benefit throughout Scotland and by means of a growing international programme. The RSE has a peer-elected, multidisciplinary Fellowship of 1400 men and women who are experts within their fields. They seek to provide public benefit in today's Scotland by:

• Organising lectures, debates and conferences on topical issues of lasting importance
• Conducting independent inquiries on matters of national and international importance
• Providing educational activities for primary and secondary school students throughout Scotland
• Distributing over £1.7 million to top researchers and entrepreneurs working in Scotland
• Showcasing the best of Scotland's research and development capabilities to the rest of the World
• Facilitating Scotland's international collaboration in research and enterprise
• Awarding prizes and medals.

Scotland's Colleges International works in support of the internationalisation of the college sector and international business development.

SCI aims to develop the college brand in international markets and specifically to:

• Promote Scotland's colleges worldwide
• Export world class vocational education & training
• Engage in partnership with international organisations
• Contribute to international development
• Enhance Scotland's cultural diversity
• Attract international students.

Scottish Development International's main role in this area is to help individual colleges and universities develop and implement overseas market entry strategies.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• Focus on individual institution strategy development and implementation in key markets
• Focus on commercial aspects of internationalisation only and deliver business support services
• Identification of overseas partners, particularly within the corporate sector, for joint ventures/consultancy contracts etc.

Scottish Council for Development and Industry's ( SCDI) main role is to strengthen Scotland's competitiveness by promoting sustainable economic development and positively influencing the agenda and policies of the Scottish, UK and European Parliaments and Non Departmental Public Bodies.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• SCDI is principally engaged in making representations to Government and others regarding matters of public policy
• Representing the interests of SCDI's subscribing members, including the corporate sector across manufacturing and service sectors; colleges and universities, local authorities; trade unions; professional bodies and trade associations; chambers of commerce; cultural organisations; voluntary organisations etc
• Programme of activities includes Public Policy, Government Affairs, International Trade, Business Information, Education-Business Links, Membership Relations and Networking Events.

The main role of the Scottish Executive ( SE) in this area is to promote Scotland as an attractive place to live work and study in order to support growth in the economy.

Within this the main responsibilities are to:

• Support our colleges and universities in their international work
• Attract Fresh Talent to live, work and study in Scotland
• Promote Scottish interests within UK-wide and European policy developments in international education.

The Scottish Funding Council's ( SFC) main role is to allocate funding to colleges and universities for the purpose of providing coherent, high quality further education, higher education and research.

Within this the main responsibilities are to:

• Provide advice to Scottish Ministers on the needs of the further and higher education sectors and on other policy and funding issues that are relevant to further education ( FE) and higher education ( HE)
• Work with the further and higher education sectors to develop coherent strategies in support of Ministerial priorities and ensure that there is coherent provision of high quality further education and higher education
• Ensure that the quality of further education and higher education in colleges and universities is assessed and enhanced
• Monitor the financial health of the colleges and universities
• Support management and governance in colleges and universities by providing guidance and disseminating good practice on many issues
• Facilitate and support desirable strategic change in the sectors
• Establish targets and indicators of performance, and gather evidence and data to monitor progress
• Develop policies to promote sustainable development.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA) is a statutory body in Scotland with responsibility for the development, awarding, and accreditation of Scotland's national qualifications, with the exception of university degree.

SQA's functions are to:

• Advise the Scottish Government on issues relating to education and training and implement government policy on qualifications
• Develop and promote high quality national, higher national and vocational qualifications
• Accredit and validate qualifications
• Approve education and training establishments to offer SQA qualifications
• Make arrangements for, assist in and carry out, assessments and examinations
• Carry out a quality assurance function
• Certificate achievement.

SQA recognizes the benefits to Scotland of opportunities to share best practices with other countries through participation in international activities. To this end SQA:

• Has an interest in the international benchmarking of qualifications standards and in international portability of qualifications
• Manages international development projects as a contractor to national governments and international agencies
• Delivers SQA qualifications overseas.

The Scottish Trade Union Congress ( STUC) is Scotland's trade union centre. Its purpose is to co-ordinate, develop and articulate the views and policies of the Trade Union Movement in Scotland reflecting the aspirations of trade unionists as workers and citizens. They aim to create real social partnership, and to promote trade union membership and organisation, equality and social justice, the creation and maintenance of high quality jobs and the public sector delivery of services.

Within this the main responsibilities are:

• Promoting trade union membership and representation
• Sustaining and developing effective relationships with government and its agencies, Parliament and Civil Service at Scottish, UK and European Union levels
• Establishing, developing and sustaining effective relationships with the other social partner organisations within Scotland, the UK and the European Union, and with key groups and networks within Scotland and internationally.

UKCOSA's main role is to help government, sector bodies and members in Scotland give the highest levels of support and guidance to international students and those who work with them - through research, advice, training and helping to influence and develop relevant aspects of government and sector policy to ensure the highest quality of experience for all those choosing to study in Scotland.

Scotland's universities and higher education institutions have a strong international focus, and have a leading role both in the development of strategy and in its implementation and delivery.

• The role of their representative body, Universities Scotland ( US), is to speak on their behalf, to promote their good work, and to make the case for the public support needed to maintain and build on their achievements and to develop policy on Scottish higher education issues
• In the international field this includes the co-ordination of input from other networks within the university sector, such as the Scottish Universities International Officers' Group ( SUIOG), the group of overseas student advisers ( STRATOS), and the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services ( AGCAS).

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