- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 10 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding was provided to each university by the Scottish Funding Council in the last five years.
Answer
This information is in the public domain and can be found by accessing the Scottish Funding Council’s website at http://www.sfc.ac.uk.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had at (a) management, (b) trade union and (c) student level in the (i) higher and (ii) further education sector in relation to the rationalisation taking place.
Answer
Ministers and officials engage regularly with a range of bodies and institutions which have an interest in the higher education and college sectors, including universities, colleges and their representative bodies and with trade unions and NUS Scotland.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with management at West Lothian College what impact the staff reductions will have on its educational provision.
Answer
The Scottish Government maintains regular dialogue with Scotland’s Colleges, which is the representative body of the sector. All colleges, including West Lothian College, are having to operate within a reduced budget as a result of the reduction by the UK Government of £1.3 billion in Scotland’s block grant.
Colleges are responsible for taking their own decisions on the learning opportunities they offer. However ministers were greatly encouraged that the sector has agreed to maintain in 2011-12 the same number of core student places as in the current academic year.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure open, transparent and accountable governance in the (a) higher and (b) further education sector.
Answer
The Scottish Funding Council is responsible for ensuring that the higher education institutions and colleges which it funds have suitable provision in relation to their governance and management, and undertakes an annual review of institutions to ensure they meet this and other criteria. The importance of high standards of governance is reflected in the terms of the financial memorandum between the Scottish Funding Council and each institution. This places an obligation on the governing body to strive to achieve good practice in the governance, management and conduct of the institution.
Colleges and universities are also required to include a statement on corporate governance in their annual financial statements, and external auditors review whether that statement complies with the requirements of the Scottish Funding Council.
As a government, we also attach considerable importance to high standards of governance in our universities and colleges. We have previously made plain our intention to take a fresh look at their governance arrangements and will bring forward our plans in due course.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure the provision of all subject areas in the (a) higher and (b) further education sector.
Answer
Successive Scottish ministers have had no statutory locus for determining provision in universities or colleges. The Scottish Funding Council is the body charged in law with ensuring coherent provision in both sectors.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether withdrawing courses in geography, sociology, community education and music at the University of Strathclyde will result in fewer opportunities for people from low-income backgrounds to access degree programmes in these disciplines.
Answer
These changes have been subject to consultation and are integral to the proposal that Strathclyde becomes one of Europe's foremost technological universities. In situations such as this, we always ensure that the Scottish Funding Council has due regard to it's statutory role of securing coherent provision across Scotland and the impact any changes have on all groups of students.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it has made of the impact on the quality of (a) teaching and (b) education of the budget reductions being made in the (i) higher and (ii) further education sector.
Answer
Despite the cuts imposed on our budget by the UK government, we are continuing to make substantial investments in our colleges and universities, and are committed to maintaining the excellence of their learning and teaching.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has (a) discussed and (b) recommended that all (i) higher and (ii) further education institutions involved in rationalisation programmes have ensured that an inclusive, open and participative consultation process took place at each institution.
Answer
We have made it clear that we expect all higher and further education institutions to be open and transparent about proposals for rationalisation, ensuring that the views of academics, staff, unions and students are taken fully into account before any final decisions are made. As independent bodies, universities and colleges are responsible for making their own arrangements for consultation.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council in relation to the rationalisations taking place across the higher education and further education sector.
Answer
As the body which oversees the funding and provision of further and higher education in Scotland, the Scottish Government looks to the Scottish Funding Council to provide expert advice to ministers on all aspects relating to the future strategic direction of the sectors, on an ongoing basis.
- Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 June 2011
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 9 June 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the (a) higher and (b) further education sector, either composite bodies or individual institutions, whether the rationalisations taking place across the sector will result in a reduction of university or college places.
Answer
Both the further and higher education sectors have agreed that core student places will be maintained in 2011-12.