ROUNDTABLE FORUM
Tuesday 23 October 2007 , 12:00 - 13:30, Victoria Quay
DRAFT MINUTES
Present
Cabinet Secretariat for Education and Lifelong Learning (Chair)
Mark Batho, Scottish Government
Stephen Kerr, Scottish Government
Aileen McKechnie, Scottish Government
Hugh McAloon, Scottish Government
Karen McAvenue, Scottish Government
George Reid, Scottish Government
Michael Roy, Scottish Government
Katherine Tierney, Scottish Government (Secretary)
Ian Macpherson, ASC
Howard McKenzie, ASC
Penny Neish, ASC
James Alexander, NUS Scotland
Natalé Craig, NUS Scotland
Gurjit Singh, NUS Scotland
John McClelland, SFC
David Wann, SFC
David Bleiman, STUC
Nancy Kelly, STUC
Kath Ryall, STUC
Mary Senior, STUC
David Caldwell, US
Bernard King, US
Apologies
Gail Edwards, NUS Scotland
Sir Muir Russell, US
Marian Healy, STUC
Welcome by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
The Cabinet Secretary welcomed members to the meeting and thanked them for travelling to Edinburgh.
Agenda Item 1 - Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed without amendment.
Action points from previous minutes:
- Teaching qualifications for ESOL lecturers
Members were informed that the Scottish Government had arranged a meeting with GTC and ASC to discuss delivery issues. A paper was being produced which would look at top up options for staff.
The Scottish Government provided an update on efficient government strategies and the Howat Report. Members were informed that the Howat Report would be considered as part of the spending review. The Cabinet Secretary indicated that although the report had been commissioned by the previous government, it would be given consideration and that some parts of the Howat Report would be more useful than others.
The Cabinet Secretary indicated that officials had conveyed members' views on the launch of the RoSCo reports and that these views had been taken into consideration. She would be giving her response to the publications on 30th October at Lauder College.
- Format of the Roundtable Forum
A paper had been circulated to the group giving detail of the history and achievements of the Roundtable Forum. It was agreed that this was a helpful paper, particularly for those who were new to the Forum.
Agenda Item 2 - Skills Strategy
Members were updated on the Scottish Government's Skills Strategy. The three priorities were outlined as Individual Development, Economic Pull and Cohesive Structures. Some of the specific aims of the Skills Strategy were also outlined. These included: developing a distinctively Scottish approach to skills acquisition, balancing the needs of employers and individuals, aligning employment and skills and placing the individual at the centre of learning and skills development; ensuring that this strategy would promote equal access to, and participation in, skills and learning for everyone; stimulating increased demand for skills from employers; and improving the utilisation of skills in the workplace. The new skills body would be important to achieving a cohesive structure and members were invited to give their views.
A discussion followed in which members discussed their views on the potential structure and functions of the skills body.
Agenda Item 3 -Charitable Status of Institutions
The Cabinet Secretary invited creative discussion on options to secure colleges' charitable status. She indicated that although there was a 2 year grace period she was keen to find a solution as soon as possible.
There was some discussion over the options relating to Ministerial powers and the role of SFC and general agreement that the issue should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Agenda Item 4 - Future Higher Education Review
STUC outlined their thoughts on a possible higher education review to look at the broad role of higher education in Scotland. Members responded positively to this suggestion and it was agreed that this should be strategic and future looking, addressing questions about what type of higher education Scotland would need in 10-20 years time and setting the direction for this. It was noted that the college sector's role in this must be included in the thinking. It was agreed that this should be discussed further in the future.
ACTION POINT: Secretariat to place Higher Education Review on agenda of next meeting. |
Agenda Item 5 - Bogus Institutions
The Cabinet Secretary informed members that the Scottish Government was trying to ensure a coordinated approach to this issue. She reminded members that this was a reserved matter, but that she would support the ASC's campaign. The Cabinet Secretary planned to write to John Hutton MP, the Westminster Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. There had also been encouraging discussion with trading standards.
ASC acknowledged that this was a UK wide problem and informed members that they had written to MPs to highlight the issue and had also engaged with the AOC.
Agenda Item 6 - 'HN Participation' Project
The Scottish Government outlined the project, which aimed to understand the cause of declining HN Participation. It was explained that the project had four phases, with phase one looking at trends in enrolment data; phase two seeking the views of colleges and other stakeholders; phase three analysing all information gathered; and phase four reporting conclusions to the Cabinet Secretary for consideration. Officials would be approaching the organisations present for their input.
It was hoped that conclusions would be ready for the Cabinet Secretary to consider by the end of the year.
Agenda Item 7 - Spending Review
It was explained to members that the Spending Review was going to be tight following the allocation from the UK Comprehensive Spending Review. The Spending Review would be presented to Parliament on 14th November.
NUS suggested that it may be useful for group members to meet for discussion following the announcement on 14th November. It was agreed that Scottish Government officials would organise a meeting if this was requested following the presentation.
ACTION POINT: Members to advise on need for stakeholder meeting following Spending Review announcement. |
Agenda Item 8 - Any Other Business
There were two other items of business.
Abolition of LECs and Impact on Colleges
The Cabinet Secretary reassured the group that any existing college board members who were the nominee of the LEC would be unaffected by the change and would be able to serve their full term.
Date of Next Meeting
The secretariat was asked to look for a date in March/April for the next meeting.
Katherine Tierney
Further and Adult Education Division
Scottish Government
October 2007