Achi news desk-
It is time to ask questions about the state of Scotland’s colleges.
How do they work? Who do they serve? Why are they important? And how do we help them help as many people as possible?
Find the answers to these questions and more by following along with this series.
Day One
‘Chronic underfunding’ – Colleges are facing a budget gap of almost half a billion pounds
James McEnaney reveals the full details of Scottish colleges facing a combined funding shortfall of almost half a billion pounds over three years. This has led to accusations of ‘chronic underfunding’, a persistent problem mentioned in the sector.
Dive Deep: Exploring the key statistics for Scotland’s college sector
Education writer James McEnaney collects and analyzes data from across the sector, examining changing funding levels for colleges and students and the way further education institutions serve specific groups of learners.
Explanation: How do Scottish colleges really work?
Despite its importance to the country as a whole, and to huge numbers of people in every corner of Scotland, the education sector is still poorly understood. James McEnaney analyzes how the college sector operates.
There are 52 billion reasons why Scottish colleges are important
There are many reasons why Scotland’s colleges are important, but financial pressures risk drowning their economic impact. A recent study by Strathclyde Fraser University of the Allander Institute found that Scottish college graduates will be worth £52 billion over their working lives. Education writer Garrett Stell reports.
‘I left school with nothing but college has changed my life’
Education writer James McEnaney talks to Rachel McCaw, a fourth-year university student whose college courses have been a ‘crucial element’ in her success story.
Insight: The gender divide in Scottish colleges
When we look at the current situation for staff and students, the role of gender is a large and undeniable part of the story. James McEnaney explains why.
College entry levels for all qualifications: 2013-14 to 2023-24
The Herald has collected data on entry levels (the number of individuals starting the course each year) for a wide range of qualifications. Some of the information was already publicly available, but some of the data had to come directly from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
