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Annex B: Delivering a Smarter Scotland
Delivering English Language Training for Scotland's Inward Migrants
1. Another aspect of Scotland's changing population is the increasing number of incoming migrants being attracted here to live, work and study. These include people from EU accession states in Central and Eastern Europe, people from outside the EU attracted to Scotland through the Fresh Talent Initiative and asylum seekers and refugees who have settled in Scotland.
2. Responding successfully to English language training needs will be a significant factor in the success of Scotland's inward migration strategy. The ability of migrant workers and other new arrivals to speak English is a key factor in helping them and their families to settle in Scotland and to help them make the required impact on our labour market.
What difference could colleges make?
3. The Executive published in, March 2007, its Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL) Strategy for Scotland, which focuses on publicly funded ESOL provision. Our colleges are well placed to work with partners to meet the needs of the various strands of the ESOL strategy. Colleges already have a presence across communities in Scotland and are widely known for their accessibility to and reputation among learners in those communities.
4. There is already significant ESOL training activity within the college sector with a number of institutions regarded as centres of expertise. Scotland can capitalise on this to ease the transition for newcomers and improve the 'stickability' and effectiveness of migrants coming to work in our key sectors.
What do colleges need to make a difference?
5. Colleges provide a cost effective and responsive option for the delivery of ESOL training around Scotland. As mentioned above, Scotland can draw on significant experience and expertise within our college sector in delivering the ESOL strategy. Ensuring that colleges are sufficiently funded to develop and disseminate expertise as well as making sure they are funded to meet demand will pay dividends for our economy in the short, medium and long term.
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