No 1 - September 2005
This is the first edition of the Review of Scotland's Colleges (RoSCo) e-bulletin which will keep stakeholders up to date with ongoing developments.
Please draw attention to the RoSCo e-Bulletin through your own internal and external newsletters and websites.
It is hoped to gain a wider circulation for the e-bulletin by building up a more comprehensive distribution list. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please let us know by e-mailing rosco@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
In this edition
Background to the Review
Core Group
Working Groups
Visits to Colleges
Feedback Invited
Background to the Review
The Review of Scotland's Colleges was launched on June 10, 2005, at the Annual Conference of the Association of Scottish Colleges. This review will be the most fundamental and wide ranging review of the college sector Scotland has seen since incorporation in 1993.
The purpose of the review is to provide Ministers with a robust evidence base, and where appropriate, informed recommendations for change. Officials in the Executive's Further and Adult Education Division will support the review, but it will be essentially the sector's own review and will be co-ordinated by a core group of stakeholders. It will involve four workstreams led by different partners, which we hope will facilitate free-thinking and dynamic contributions from a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The review will examine in detail the contribution which the sector makes to learners and to Scotland's economy and wider society. It will also explore college's strategic future over the next 10-15 years, taking account of changing demographics and changing expectations. It will consider what might be done to further strengthen college accountability and governance. And finally, the review will look at issues concerning staffing and the learning environment, including opportunities for the modernisation and improvement of teaching methods and for supporting the professionalism and development of staff.
Ministers expect that this will be a huge opportunity for further education in Scotland to better articulate its achievements and potential. It will provide Ministers with the clearest possible basis on which to take future decisions affecting the sector, including spending decisions.
Our aim is to complete the full review in February 2007.
Minutes of Meetings and Associated Papers
Minutes of meetings (and associated papers) will be placed on the website shortly after they have been approved by the subsequent meeting of the relevant group.
Core Group
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A preliminary meeting of the Core Group was held on May 17, 2005, to scope the work necessary to taking forward the Review. At this meeting the Group suggested four workstreams:
- the difference colleges make
- accountability and governance
- staffing and facilities
- colleges' strategic future
These workstreams will each be taken forward by a Working Group. The next meeting of the Core Group will take place on October 7 in Glasgow.
Membership of the Core Group
The Core Group is chaired by Mark Batho, Head of the Executive's Lifelong Learning Group. Its membership comprises:
- Association of Scottish Colleges
- Scottish Further Education Funding Council
- Scottish Trades Union Congress
- National Union of Students Scotland
- Scottish Further Education Unit
- HM Inspectorate of Education
- Scottish Enterprise
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Scottish Youth Parliament
- Universities Scotland
- Scottish Qualifications Authority
- SKILL Scotland
- Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland
- Association of Directors of Education in Scotland
- Scottish Executive
Working Groups
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The Difference Colleges Make - this Working Group held its first meeting on August 17, 2005. Its discussions included:
- the Group should aim to complete its work in February 2006
- Qualitative and quantitative information should be considered
- the Review Team should visit college to discuss the impact that colleges make with staff and learners
- the Association of Scottish Colleges should prepare a paper detailing the full range of college activity and a research proposal on the interaction between businesses and colleges for the next meeting
The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on October 19 in Angus College.
Accountability and Governance
The Working Group held its first meeting on September 1, 2005 and its discussions included:
the remit of the group is to build on the work of previous reviews and examine the arrangements for accountability and governance in incorporated colleges
Ministerial powers of intervention will need to be considered as a matter of urgency
the Association of Scottish Colleges should prepare a paper for the next meeting putting forward suggestions for the taking the workstream forward
the Executive should reconsider the suggested timetable for completion of the group's work (February 2007) for the next meeting
The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on September 29 at John Wheatley College.
Staffing and Learning Environment
The Working Group held its first meeting on August 24, 2005, and agreed:
- the group should aim to complete its work in October 2006
- issues relating to learners, the learning environment should be given equal consideration to staffing issues
- the Funding Council and the Scottish Further Education Unit should provide an update at the next meeting on the existing research and future research on issues being considered by the group
The next meeting of the Working Group will take place on October 20 at the Scottish Further Education Unit in Stirling.
Colleges' Long Term Strategic Future
The Working Group held its first meeting on August 26, 2005, and its discussions included:
- the group should aim to complete its work in February 2007
- the features for a successful outcome for the workstream
- the group should consider colleges' strategic future over the next 10 to 15 years
- the group should use scenario planning and establish a subgroup to oversee the process
The next meeting of the Working Group has not yet been scheduled.
Visits to Colleges
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The Review Team has spent the past few weeks on the road visiting 14 colleges across the length and breadth of Scotland.
- West Lothian College
- Aberdeen College
- Banff and Buchan College
- South Lanarkshire College
- Motherwell College
- Dundee College
- Forth Valley College
- James Watt College
- Glasgow Metropolitan College
- Elmwood College
- Dumfries and Galloway College
- Barony College
- Jewel and Esk Valley College
- Anniesland College
At these meetings principals, and in some instances senior management, provided their initial thoughts on how the review team should approach the four workstreams and suggested key stakeholders who could help identify the difference colleges make. These meetings were extremely helpful to the review team in developing ideas for taking the review forward and in identifying some of the key challenges and opportunities for the sector.
The Review Team is still to visit:
Adam Smith College (October 12)
Lews Castle College (October 13)
John Wheatley College (October 26)
Lauder College (October 31)
Central College of Commerce (November 2)
Stevenson College (November 11)
The Review Team has also embarked on a series of visits to stakeholder organisations seeking their views on the difference colleges make.
Feedback
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Feedback on any aspect of the Review is always welcomed. Please send your comments to rosco@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
Contacts
RoSCo Project Leader - Col Baird
Tel 0141 242 0237
Email colin.baird@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
RoSCo Secretariat - Victoria Beattie
Tel 0141 242 0239
Email Victoria.beattie@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Address Further and Adult Education Division
Europa Building
450 Argyle Street
Glasgow
G2 8LG
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