Why is this National Outcome important?
Sustainable economic growth can only be achieved if we use the skills of our people to best effect. Skills development runs through our lifelong learning agenda, spanning our new approach to the early years of children's lives, the reforms to our school curriculum, improvements in the skills of our workforce, and thinking ahead to the future of further and higher education in Scotland.
What will influence this National Outcome?
Scotland needs to improve its relatively low productivity levels. Starting with a relatively high skills base, the challenge is to make sure we have the right skills and that they are used effectively. That is why Skills for Scotland sets out an ambitious agenda, focusing on the demand for and supply of skills in Scotland and, importantly, their utilisation. To achieve this we are improving learning opportunities for low paid/low skilled workers and working towards an effective mix of vocational skills in the economy. We are also working with employers so that, together, we can meet their skills needs.
We are reducing economic inactivity, supporting individuals to access employment as a route out of poverty through providing accessible, high quality learning and development opportunities for individuals in vulnerable or disadvantaged situations and making additional support, such as childcare, more widely available. Not only will this improve individual wellbeing, it will increase participation in the labour market.
Maintaining the competitiveness and effectiveness of our tertiary education system in teaching, research and knowledge transfer is vital to our economic wellbeing. This knowledge will underpin the thinking and technologies which promote and protect our health, wellbeing and environment, and which drive sustainable economic growth.
What is the Government's role?
This Government's Purpose is to make Scotland a wealthier nation from which all of Scotland's people, both now and in the future, can benefit. That is why we have embarked on a major reform of our post 16 learning system to ensure that publicly-funded provision is better aligned, more closely attuned to the needs of employers and learners, and sees college provision re-organised on a regional basis, with funding directly linked to need.
We will capitalise on the benefits of collaboration between Scottish universities, building on existing success. We are working to stimulate demand for and use of research and innovation by business, so that we can bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation of our best ideas.
Graduates from Scottish universities are among the brightest and the best in the global talent pool and make a significant contribution to Scotland's economic growth. This Government is demonstrating its commitment to higher education so that Scotland remains an international centre for excellence for learning and creative thinking whilst ensuring that access is based upon ability to succeed rather than ability to pay.
Related Strategic Objectives
Smarter
Healthier
Wealthier and Fairer
Related National Indicators
Improve Scotland's reputation
Increase research and development spending
Improve knowledge exchange from university research
Improve the skill profile of the population
Increase the proportion of pre-school centres receiving positive inspection reports
Increase the proportion of schools receiving positive inspection reports
Improve levels of educational attainment
Increase the proportion of young people in learning, training or work
Increase the proportion of graduates in positive destinations
Reduce the proportion of individuals living in poverty