The Changing Learner Landscape :

Government proposals for post 16 education

Tom MacMasterHead of ICT, Digital Services and Library ServicesCarnegie College, Dunfermline

Health Warning

This is my interpretation of what’s going on. I’m speaking on behalf of myself not Carnegie College!

Purpose

1. To highlight the current reviews affecting post 16 education

2.  To discuss some of the implications of these reviews

3.  To think about key issues and future service delivery models

4.  To consider how this affects Library service delivery

THE REVIEWS

So where are we going in the future?

Current Situation – Reviews, reviews and more Reviews

Griggs review on Governance of Colleges

McCllelland – Review of ICT Infrastructure in Scotland

Higher Education Information Directors Scotland (HEIDS) Above Campus IT Shared Services Report – funded by SFC

Roe Review of Post 16 Education and Vocational Training in Scotland

Griggs Review of College Governance

Remit

to consider whether current institutional governance arrangements in the college sector in Scotland deliver an appropriate level of democratic accountability given the level of public funding institutions receive; and

to examine the structure of college governance and make recommendations for change, including at sector-wide level, which will support the role of colleges in economic and social development in a highly challenging future financial climate

Expected to conclude by end of 2011

No clear route for providing evidence, no request for consultation

McCllelland Review of ICT Infrastructure in the Public Sector in Scotland. (June 2011)

Wants to radically change how ICT is adopted and deployed in public sector

Shared IT platforms – self sufficient operating mode no longer affordable

In F/HE, ‘The deployment of shared services in ICT is still relatively low and less than a third of the institutions had at least one shared service.’

Complete Paradigm Change Required (but convergence and connection rather than build anew)

National Oversight Board – FE/HE Governance Board

HEIDS – Above Campus Shared IT Services Report (July 2011)

Indicative projects for sharing –

IT Continuity, Collaboration Tools, Blackboard Licensing, Hosted VLE, Student Record Systems, Subscription Resources.

What about shared Repositories, Library Management Systems?

Working Groups already set up and progressing developments

Roe Review (August 2011)

Willy Roe, CBE – Chair of SDS Scotland (now retired)

Key Player in Government Plans for Role of Colleges

Modern Apprentices, Careers, My World of Work, Employability

45 Recommendations including the creation of a learner centred system that offers access to the world of work, operates collaboratively, is transparent and accountable, is market led with strong employer engagement….performance driven….embraces innovation, gains more from technologies etc etc

Recommends a Personal Development Account with a Learning Portal, an Open College and shared services

More Reviews and Consultation!

Scottish Government Spending Review – the Budget

SFC Review into funding of Colleges – methodology, distribution

Putting Learners at the Centre review – consultation ends 23 Dec

College Regionalisation – proposals for implementing Putting Learners at the Centre (Govt. AND Funding Council)

Spending Review - Budget Cuts

Financial Year College Programme

University Programme

College and University Capital

2012-13 506.9 1002.2 60.7

2013-14 494.7 1041.5 45.9

2014-15 470.7 1061.7 56.4

• 12/13 – cut 7% to 23% - depending on how calculated - Likely 20+%

• HE provision increased but not in Colleges?• Capital cut by £36.1m for Colleges and Universities – implications?

• Lots of Don’t knows

Funding Council Guidance

• Letter of guidance to SFC

• all16 to 19 year olds should be guaranteed an appropriate place in learning – Colleges have central role to play

• Where possible, Colleges should work with other agencies to provide similar offer to 20 – 24 year olds

• Improving employment chances and retention• Courses should lead to SCQF qualifications• Reduced budget means a need for substantial savings• Regional Funding to be in place for 2012 - 2013• Radical change, systemic change• HE needs to deliver on wider access, efficiencies, articulation

Relationship between reviews

Putting Learners At The Centre

GriggsSFC Funding

Budget

Colleges of the future

HEIDS

Roe

ICT

The Key Review – Putting Learners at the Centre (Sept 2011)

Joint Consultation Paper from Government and SFC – College Regionalisation: Proposals for Implementing ‘Putting Learners at the Centre’ (Nov 2011)

Consultation open till 23rd December 2011

Latest Documents

Putting Learners at the Centre review – reformed post 16 education system

The key review – key word ‘interconnectedness’

Legislation Core Purpose The Learner Journey Linked to Jobs and Growth Effective and Sustainable

Growth Regionalisation Simplification of funding Enhanced role for Education

Scotland and SFC Influence by Roe, McCllelland

Post 16 education must be

Sustainable Diverse Open for all Excellent Flexible International Learner centred Well-led Focussed on jobs and growth

What does this mean for Colleges?

Learner must come first

Focus on employment, skills and job readiness

Younger demographic

Closer working with others

Regional funding and regional working Governance options

Timeline – fast

Regional funding to be in place by AY 12/13 New structures to be complete in 2 to 3 yrs Fast moving landscape – change coming quickly

Highlands and Islands

North East

Tayside Scotland

Regional Groupings

Fife

Edinburgh and Lothians

BordersD & G

Glasgow

West

Ayrshire

Lanarkshire

Forth Valley

Excludes Newbattle Abbey, Sabhal Mor Ostaig and land based colleges

What does this mean for Colleges?

Ouch!!

More seriously, the documents detail the following -

Colleges need a much sharper focus on outcomes

Planning, funding and delivery is based on a regional approach, responding to the economic needs of that region

Boundaries should be invisible to students

Funding is simpler and needs based

More information in December 2011 regarding specific funding and activity levels for 2012 - 2013

Regional Provision will:

Create a more strategic approach to planning and delivery

Help every community and young person access appropriate College education

Enhance the capability to deliver part time learning

Better develop provision for employers

Major campuses will remain where they are – where there is no presence, colleges will be required to consider how they make adequate provision

Create cost efficiencies that can free resources to redirect to learners

Framework for joint working between partners – Employers, Schools, Colleges, Universities

Courses:

Putting Learners at the Centre articulates that Government investment in Colleges is to provide people with

The skills they need to get a job, keep a job, or get a better job and develop a career

SFC funds must meet this purpose

Measured by outcome agreements agreed with Regions with Colleges concentrating on courses leading to RECOGNISED qualifications (including Voc, non advanced and advanced) and supporting the senior phase of CfE, including school college partnership programmes

Funding likely to be allocated to regions on basis of each regions’ share of people with low qualifications

Funding:

From 2013 – 2014, propose a simplified approach

Subject Based Payment reflecting cost of provision in an efficient College

Payment reflecting additional costs of teaching students with additional needs (DPG18 and XLSPs) will be incorporated in above payment and separate fund for complex additional needs to be created which could include students from areas of extreme social deprivation – more work required on this system

Additional costs for remote or rural areas

Student support to be regionalised on the basis of student places and historical proportions of FT FE student bursary and childcare take up. May keep funds back till evidence of demmand

Student Numbers:

Intend to simplify the current system and base it on converting learning hours required per credit to full time equivalent student places

Retention rates must improve and evidence base for drop our reasons must be better

Cut off point may rise to 50% of course duration rather than 25%

Looking for transparency rather than tricks

Regional Structures and Accountability:

‘Putting Learners at the Centre signals a Government wish for a fundamental change in accountability arrangements for College funding. Colleges now have to meet their own activity targets, provide education of at least acceptable quality and maintain financial viability’

‘Government proposes that Colleges will become directly accountable for how well collectively they serve the needs of their region, on the basis of negotiated outcome agreements for each region’

Reflects Return on Investment expected by Govt and SFC for their investment – Negotiated SMART outcome agreements

Regional Structures :

4 Broad Options

Merged College : well established route to merger

Federation of Colleges: Joint Board to receive and account for funding. New fundable body created. New concept, but analagous to funding of HE in UHI

‘Lead College’ : A College in one area becomes the body funded and accountable to SFC with contractual arrangements between it and the other Colleges

Collaboration: Colleges funded directly but agree collaboration tom meet regional needs

Colleges asked to find best way with implementation timetable but with efficiencies always in mind

Radical, Fast Moving Change

Regional Funding from 2012 – 2013

Transitional arrangements to be put in place to deal with shifts in funding and setting clear direction of travel

Most regions to implement structural change in 2012 – 13

New Structures operational in most regions 2013 – 2014

New Structures operational in remaining regions 2014 – 2015

Review and monitoring of outcome agreements

Library Service Delivery

Library Services will be part of the change process

Technology will drive this as it will Curriculum Delivery

Faced Change before – Incorporation in 1993

Learners at the Centre stresses the need for Learner Engagement

Learners Value Libraries

Libraries Collaborate already

Learners at the Centre implies more independence and personalised learning (CfE )

Library Service Delivery

Information Literacy Vital

Learners will need access to quality resources and support in using them

Learners need Study Points

Learners at the Centre emphasises Articulation and Progression Routes

Part Time Learners, Distance Learners and Online Learners still exist

Learners Will be:

Younger- remember the focus on 16 – 19

Used to using technology

Likely to have a mobile device

Used to personalised spaces – facebook, online gaming worlds

Have had access to Glow

All impacting on Library Service Delivery

Over to you…………………………..