REVIEW OF SCOTLAND 'S COLLEGES
WORKING GROUP: THE DIFFERENCE COLLEGES MAKE
Minutes of Meeting on 1 December 2005 at Cumbernauld College
This paper is also available as a PDF
Attendees
John Burt (Chair)
Linda Hall (Secretariat)
Col Baird, Review of Scotland's Colleges Team
Audrey Robertson, FAED
Simon Chisholm, ASD
Sean Stronach, Communities Scotland
Kish Srinivasan, HMIE
Gordon Craig, SFC
Gordon McBride, SFC
Mark Cummings, ASC
Julie Gilstrap, ASC
Brian Lister, Cumbernauld College
Gordon MacDougall, Careers Scotland
Mary Senior, STUC
Carl Bow, Scottish Enterprise
Aileen Ponton, SSDA
Susan Wilson, SQA
Garry Clark, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Natalie Craig, NUS Scotland
Apologies
Gerhard Mors, ASD
Colin MacBean, ASD
Christina Potter, Elmwood College
David Lonsdale, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Gordon Rodgers, SQA
John Ireson, Skill Scotland
Adam Gaines, Equalities Co-ordinating Group
Lilian Anderson, NUS Scotland
1. College Visit
The Chair thanked Brian Lister and the staff and students of Cumbernauld College. It was agreed that the Chair would write to the two students who had spoken to the Group thanking them for their contribution.
2. Minutes of meeting on 19 October and Action Points
2.1 Minutes
· Agreed with some minor amendments.
Action Point: SFC to provide text for amendment to section on baseline report. (Gordon McBride)
Action Point: Final version of minutes to be circulated to the Group prior to being published on the ROSCO website. (Linda Hall)
2.2 Action Points
· ASC provided an update on the research being carried out by ASC/SCC. They hope to be able to provide feedback on initial results early in January.
Action Point: ASC to provide the Group with a copy of the questions used in the research for information. (Julie Gilstrap)
3. Operating Procedures for the Group
· Paper (DCMWG-P06) was circulated prior to the meeting. It sets out the standards expected of the Core Group and each of the working groups involved in the review.
4. Update on the Review
· Paper (DCMWG-P07) was circulated prior to the meeting. It includes the notes taken of the college visits undertaken by the Reviews Team. The main messages to note so far are:
- Students recognise that attending college has made a big difference to their confidence not only as regards learning but also in other areas of their lives.
- In many cases students felt that attending college was the only option available to them if they wished to continue/go back to learning.
- Students are aware of the difference which attending college will make to their future life chances.
· These notes will be published on the ROSCO website. It was agreed that if possible it would be useful to provide the Principals of the colleges visited with individual feedback.
· Demonstrating the number of visits undertaken will help to add credibility to the report as it will show that it is based on evidence drawn from speaking to staff, students and Principals.
· The Foster review mirrored the English approach to the skills development agenda and tying this in to economic development and productivity. Our review reflects the Scottish lifelong learning strategy which encompasses skills development.
· In the report we will need to capture the growing role for colleges in workforce development. A key feature of colleges is their agility to respond to employers' needs.
· Over the last 2/3 years colleges have developed partnerships with other sectors. This is an ongoing process and is constantly evolving. We need to consider how best to capture or demonstrate this is the report.
· The Core Group considered the issue of colleges' charitable status. When the new charities legislation comes into force in April, colleges could lose their charitable status because Ministers have powers of direction over colleges. The preferred option is for colleges to retain their charitable status and Ministers also to retain their powers. The Core Group has submitted a paper to Ministers on this.
5. ASC Paper
· This paper (DCMWG-P08) has been re-worked in light of comments made at the last meeting of the Group. A final section has been added looking at the contribution which colleges make to the Scottish Executive's Partnership Agreement.
· The paper will require to be amended to reflect Trade Union activity e.g. training of shop stewards, health and safety training.
· The final paper should also include something on the Skills for Work initiative and Knowledge Transfer.
· This is a status paper for the ASC to contribute to the work of the Group. Although it will not be published itself, it will be drawn on for information to be included in the final report. As such, it will probably not be necessary for it to be discussed at the next meeting. However the final version should be forwarded to the Executive prior to the next meeting so that it can be circulated to the Group.
Action Point: Paper to be amended to include Trade Union Education. (Julie Gilstrap/Mary Senior)
Action Point: ASC to submit final paper to SE prior to the next meeting so that it can be circulated to the Group. (Julie Gilstrap)
6. Economic Value of Colleges
· Discussed modelling the economic benefit of colleges.
· Main focus is the benefits of learning to the student and the economy. The model considers the private benefits of learning for the students e.g. increased skills and earnings.
· Agreed that looking solely at qualifications doesn't give a complete picture. Quoting figures won't capture the social value of college learning e.g. increased confidence. Suggested that Dr Carol Craig of the Centre for Confidence and Well-Being could be asked about gathering empirical evidence on this.
· Need to find a way of demonstrating the scale, size and functions of the sector e.g. colleges also earn private money. Also need to consider the lifelong learning angle e.g. guidance and support, contribution of non-academic staff.
· The economic value is probably better summed up in words as some of the figures used are not strictly comparable.
Action Point: Members of the Group to submit any comments on proposed methodology to Simon Chisholm by Thursday 8 December. The final methodology to be circulated to the Group thereafter. (Simon Chisholm)
7. Indicators of Efficiency and Partnership in Colleges
· Need to distinguish between 'efficiency' and 'partnership' - genuine working partnerships do increase efficiency but not all partnerships automatically lead to efficiency. Would be better to form two consecutive chapters in the report. Range of partnerships colleges have is one of their great strengths but efficiency may not be the main aim of the partnership.
· It would be useful if people on the Group could provide examples of partnership working e.g. from HMIE reports.
· Also need to distinguish between 'partnership' and 'merger'. Merger may be more key to efficiency than partnership.
· Demonstrate how partnership can maximise opportunities for students and how efficiency in colleges can add to public value. Could use the Open Learning Exchange Group as an example of a positive partnership providing an efficient way of delivering.
· There is no mention of quality in the paper and this needs to be picked up. Could mention Aspect Reports and the quality of the student experience. The tables in the paper don't capture this and are open to different interpretations.
· While benchmarking would better show what colleges are delivering this is work in progress only to be used as a management tool at present.
· We need robust evidence to show how efficient colleges are - the Audit Committee will keep asking for this. We need to find a way of measuring efficiency.
Action Point: Check with colleagues in GMAP about amending paper as discussed. (Gordon Craig)
8. SFC Baseline Publication
· Data from 2004-05 is now available.
Action Point: Four chapters to be sent to Col Baird next week to be circulated for feedback outwith the meeting. (Gordon McBride)
9. Draft Outline of Final Report
· Provides an indication of the intended chapters. Will need to firm up the number and title of the individual chapters. 'Quality' should feature as a title by itself. Will also need to capture the idea of the social value beyond learning i.e. to the community.
· Need to avoid the temptation of overloading the report. The document should show what colleges do and should be concise enough so that people will want to read it.
· Some colleges have been asked to provide a case study (by 12 December) to cover specific issues
· Also intended to include stakeholder platforms i.e. stakeholders will be given space in the report to provide their own input. Keen that the stakeholders shouldn't be the 'usual suspects'. It would be better to have organisations who have an interest in the sector although it is not their core business. This would give the report more objectivity. Suggestions for organisations to include were:
- COSLA/SOLACE
- Consumer Council
- NUS Scotland
- SCVO
- Sector Skills Councils.
Action Point: Further draft to be circulated round Group before next meeting. Consider forming a sub group to act as a sounding board as the report develops. ( Col Baird)
10. Any other business
· There was no other business.
11. Date and venue of next meeting
· The next meeting will be on 19 January. Christina Potter has kindly offered to host the meeting at Elmwood College.
List of Action Points
· SFC to provide text for amendment to section on baseline report. (Gordon McBride)
· Final version of minutes to be circulated to the Group prior to being published on the ROSCO website. (Linda Hall)
· ASC to send a copy of the questions used in the research to Col for information. (Julie Gilstrap)
· ASC paper to be amended to include Trade Union Education. (Julie Gilstrap/Mary Senior)
· ASC to submit final paper to SE prior to the next meeting so that it can be circulated to the Group. (Julie Gilstrap)
· Members of the Group to submit any comments on proposed methodology to Simon Chisholm by Thursday 8 December. The final methodology to be circulated to the Group thereafter. (Simon Chisholm)
· Check with colleagues in GMAP about amending Efficiency and Partnership paper as discussed. (Gordon Craig)
· Four chapters to be sent to Col Baird next week to be circulated for feedback outwith the meeting. ( Gordon McBride )
· Further draft of final report to be circulated round Group before next meeting. Consider forming a sub group to act as a sounding board as the report develops. ( Col Baird)
Linda Hall
FAED
8 December 2005