Scottish Government

Skills Strategy Key Challenge

Activity

We will create a funding system that is responsive to the needs of individuals, employers and the wider economy. We will ensure that the required support is available to individuals who need it and is properly resourced across sectors - including recognition of the higher cost of individually-tailored support (p42)

New support for HE part-time students was introduced for academic year 2008/09. This can benefit up to 20,000 part-time students. Consists of a £500 part-time HE grant for course fees for all new and existing students who earn £18,000 or less, and who are studying at 50% or more of a full-time course. It is delivered through a simplified ILA Scotland model.

From academic year 2009-10 the income threshold is increasing to £22,000, the minimum level of study is reducing to 40 SCQF credits and part-time postgraduate funding at SCQF level 11 is being included in the scheme. The postgraduate funding will be reviewed at the end of the year in light of economic conditions.

In January 2009 it was announced that this new support is being extended to include Professional Development Awards (PDA) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses at SCQF level 7-10.

The Scottish Government has also made a number of changes to the ILA Scotland scheme. These changes aim to reposition ILA Scotland so that it supports the aims of the Skills Strategy. The changes we are making will direct more ILA funding at harder to reach learners such as low pay low skill employees or those with adult literacy and numeracy needs. The following changes came into effect on 1st July 2008 -

• reduce the minimum age to 16 (currently 18)
• withdraw the ILA100 offer (non income-assessed, open to all adults)
• tighten learner eligibility to restrict funding for pensioners not on low incomes
• tighten course eligibility to exclude postgraduate courses
• increase the range of courses that are eligible for ILA funding by widening course eligibility to allow funding for work-related courses and adult literacy and numeracy courses which are delivered through an employer.