This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Launch of Lifelong Learning strategy
11/02/2003
The Executive's first ever lifelong learning strategy - Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life - was launched today.
Some of the main points are:
- Merging the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils
- Piloting Business Learning Accounts with small businesses, providing them with tools to link training needs with business growth
- Reviewing the funding of learners during 2003, including consideration of the extension of existing entitlements
- Committing £40m over three years to 2006 to enable young people in school to learn and have experience of business enterprise
- Funding the Give it a Go! campaign to help 5,000 Scots get a taste for learning
- Introducing Education Maintenance Allowances across Scotland to help around 40,000 young people stay on at school or college
- Developing a new Scottish approach to quality assurance for learning
- Improving the quality and consistency of information for learners, by developing learndirect scotland's national database of learning opportunities
- Building on the success of Modern Apprenticeships by introducing pre-apprenticeships to link with vocational learning in our schools
- Establishing a Lifelong Learning Forum, chaired at Ministerial level, to bring together all the key players in lifelong learning to discuss issues of mutual interest
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Iain Gray said that learning was the key to unlocking the door to success for individuals and the country as a whole.
He also used the publication of the strategy to outline initial plans for a new Individual Learning Account scheme. The first ILA scheme was closed in December 2001.
The Minister announced that the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) would take on a new role, working in partnership with learndirect scotland, to administer the new scheme.
Mr Gray said:
"In order to achieve a Smart, Successful Scotland we have to make sure that every Scot is given the opportunity to be the very best that they can be. Learning is key to this.
"This new strategy recognises the crucially important role that learning plays in the future economic prosperity of Scotland. It sets out a clear agenda for matching learning opportunities with the skills needed to strengthen Scotland's economy and society.
"The strategy is about stimulating demand for learning and getting every Scot ready for tomorrow's jobs, working towards full and fulfilling employment and closing the opportunity gap.
"Learning - gaining new skills and new knowledge - is a lifetime opportunity and a lifetime achievement. Different types of learning help people to develop their potential in different ways; from accessing jobs and careers that may have seemed out of their reach to fostering new interests that enrich their lives.
"That's why I want people in Scotland to develop a passion for learning. This strategy can help achieve this, but it is still only a beginning. We need the active support of all involved in lifelong learning and I urge everyone to play their part in engendering a passion for lifelong learning in all the people of Scotland."
Matthew Farrow of the Confederation of British Industry said:
"Skills are the lifeblood of a modern economy. And as the biggest investors in lifelong learning…employers know the importance of quality and relevance in learning. We therefore welcome strongly the strategy's emphasis on these across its recommendations.
"The Executive will need to maintain this focus on the outcomes rather than the volume of learning, and ensure that the varied interests of providers do not undermine the clarity and coherence which employers and individuals want."
Linda McKay, Principal of Falkirk College, added:
"This is a great endorsement of further education contribution to delivering Scotland's achievements in lifelong learning so far. I welcome the adoption of entitlement for priority groups of learners and the extension of opportunity for young learners to vocational and enterprise routes.
"The emphasis on workforce development comes at a time when the re-design and modernisation of further education portfolio of HN and VQ qualifications is well underway. This will allow the sector to make the high quality contribution that the strategy seeks.
"The FE sector will continue to be an active partner in the debate which will follow the announcement of the Executive Strategy today."
Since the publication of Opportunity Scotland the then Scottish Office's paper for lifelong learning in September 1998, there have been a number of developments, including:
- the establishment of learndirect scotland to provide information and advice on learning opportunities;
- providing over 60,000 extra places in FE;
- establishing Careers Scotland, the all-age guidance service;
- establishing Futureskills Scotland to improve collection and analysis of labour market information; and
- providing training for around 44,000 people as Modern Apprentices to date - 16,500 have completed their training.
Matthew Farrow is Head of Policy at CBI Scotland. He joined the CBI in 1990, having studied History at Christ's College, Cambridge and has worked on issues including education and training, the growth of smaller firms, and tourism. His final post in London was Head of Smaller Firms and Tourism Policy. Early in 1999, Matthew was appointed to a new post at CBI Scotland, entitled Head of Policy. In this position Matthew is responsible for all the policy development carried out by CBI Scotland on behalf of its members.
Linda McKay is Principal of Falkirk Further and Higher Education and has been in the post since 1999. Previous positions include Depute Principal of Glenrothes College and Assistant Principal of Dundee College. She is also the Chair of Forth Valley Local Economic Forum, a Member of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council Teaching and Learning Committee and the ASC Representative on the Joint Advisory Committee for the SCQF.
The Minister was also joined by Brian Brooking, Erica Simpson and Julie Greig, who are examples of how lifelong learning flexibility can provide successful career enhancing solutions.
Left: Brian Brooking (27) is from Cumbernauld and left school to be an apprentice sheet metal worker. After five years of working he went to Telford College and did an NC in Engineering. He followed that up with an HND in engineering at Napier and is now just about to complete his BEng at Napier.
Second from Right: Julie Greig she is currently on a modern apprenticeship scheme and is working for the Executive as the Diary Secretary for the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Mary Mulligan.
Right: Erica Simpson (30) currently works for NISUS - the former Edinburgh Women's Training Centre. She left school with no formal qualifications and has received extensive on the job training that has allowed her to flourish in her new role.