Posted by admin on October 9, 2023 ·
September is usually a hectic month for learning & skills, as everyone returns after their summer breaks and the Scottish Government sets out its programme for the year.
This year it was relatively quiet across the landscape, even though the new government programme includes plenty of education & skills related priorities.
There are still numerous reports and announcements to keep you busy, however, including:
Want to keep on top of all the developments? Become an Informed Scotland subscriber. Email [email protected] to request a complimentary copy from Angela and discover what you’re missing.
Posted by admin on September 15, 2023 ·
Summer 2023 was a relatively calm one for learning & skills in Scotland, particularly for the school sector. Which was much appreciated by everyone after the hectic period that preceded it and that will no doubt follow.
Reports to highlight include:
There was also the usual statistical reports and annual surveys, including on the participation of 16–19 year-olds in education, training & employment, the educational outcomes for looked after children, university applicants, higher education students & qualifiers and widening access.
Sharing feedback from a subscriber for our Organisations & People Special published last month: A great resource – would highly recommend to education and skills colleagues operating in Scotland. All new subscribers receive a copy.
This is the tip of the information iceberg: become an Informed Scotland subscriber so you can keep on top of all the developments. Email [email protected] to request a sample copy.
Posted by admin on August 28, 2023 ·
The 11th Informed Scotland Organisations & People Special has just been published to coincide with the start of the 2023–24 academic session.
This annual snapshot of a busy, ever-changing landscape helps our subscribers quickly locate the key organisations and make sense of where they fit into the bigger picture. They find it a useful directory of the main bodies and institutions operating across business, education, community & adult learning, government and wider society. Listings include:
- Sector-specific skills bodies
- Local authority education departments and regional improvement collaboratives
- Colleges and universities
- Teacher education institutions
- Developing the Young Workforce regional groups
- Knowledge exchange, research pools & innovation centres
- National resources, libraries and science centres
There are links to over 420 organisations, over twice as many as in the first edition in 2013.
Notes throughout highlight the changes over the past year, including new organisations, mergers and rebrands, plus numerous senior appointments, promotions and retirements.
All new subscribers receive a copy, and the monthly issues will keep you updated about further changes throughout the next 12 months.
This is the tip of the information iceberg: become an Informed Scotland subscriber so you can keep on top of all the developments. Email [email protected] to request a sample copy.
Posted by admin on July 20, 2023 ·
A later-than-usual round up of learning & skills last month – a month crammed full of major reports and announcements to keep us all busy over the summer.
One of the hottest topics was It’s Our Future, the final report of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment led by Prof Louise Hayward. This was followed by a statement to Parliament by education & skills Cabinet Secretary, Jenny Gilruth. To help subscribers, Informed 112 included the report’s 26 recommendations in an Annex.
Another major theme was Post-School Education, Research and Skills. Fit for the Future, the final report of the Skills Delivery Landscape Review by James Withers was published. Swiftly followed by a Scottish Government announcement and publication of a Purpose & Principles ‘blueprint’ and Initial Priorities papers. The review’s 15 recommendations were also provided in an Annex for digest subscribers.
And these weren’t the only hot topics. The others were learning for sustainability, entrepreneurial higher education and innovation, driven by three Scottish Government publications:
Other items worth highlighting:
Want to keep on top of all the developments? Become an Informed Scotland subscriber. Email [email protected] to request a complimentary copy from Angela and discover what you’re missing.
Posted by admin on June 15, 2023 ·
The hottest topic in May was publication of the National Discussion on Education – Final report. The National Discussion was led by Prof Carol Campbell and Prof Alma Harris, who describe the scale of the response as ‘unprecedented in the history of engagement about the Scottish education system’.
We now wait to see what impact its findings might have. The Scottish Government and COSLA, who launched the Discussion in September 2022, are to ‘consider the report … and work to ensure that the vision for Scottish education is realised for all learners’.
Other items to highlight this month:
This edition marks Informed Scotland’s 11th anniversary!
As ever at this time, it’s interesting to recall what was shaping the learning & skills landscape back in May 2012, with an eye to what’s changed – or not:
- Youth unemployment was a shocking 23.1% (now 6.1%).
- Education Scotland had just audited secondary school preparations for implementing Curriculum for Excellence.
- The regionalisation of Scotland’s 41 colleges was underway (now 26 in 13 regions).
- The Scottish Parliament was set to increase free early learning & childcare from 475 to 600 hours per year (now 1,140 hours).
- A Scottish Parliament committee concluded that the attainment gap for looked after children was ‘unacceptably wide’.
- And there was no mention of green skills or energy transition in a press release for Scottish Enterprise’s new Oil & Gas Strategy 2012 2020: Maximising our Future.
If you’d like to see what else was in Informed 1, email [email protected] to request a copy, plus the latest issue, and discover what you’re missing.
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Posted by admin on May 15, 2023 ·
The debate about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on learning & skills ramped up across the landscape in April. There was a palpable sense of being swept along – or aside – by the speed of change. Organisations and individuals are in a hurry to learn more about systems such as ChatGPT and Bard, how to use, teach, benefit from and guard against them. And while many are running to catch up, experts and early adopters are keen to share their knowledge and skills, to calm the nerves while warning of the dangers. Look out for:
Equality, diversity & inclusion was another focus of attention in all sectors. Items included:
Other reports worth delving into:
Want to keep on top of all the developments? Become an Informed Scotland subscriber. Email [email protected] to request the latest copy.
Posted by admin on April 13, 2023 ·
There were a few particularly hot topics for learning & skills in March:
Digital economy skills. This is the theme of a new five-year Skills Action Plan from Skills Development Scotland, now that digital skills are essential for all industries, not just for the tech sector.
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW). A set of three meaty reports from the Scottish Government review DYW activity since 2014, and explore the initiative’s impact on employer engagement and its impact on education. And the latest annual update on the Young Person’s Guarantee, launched in 2020, discusses DYW and areas of duplication.
Green skills & jobs. Brought into focus by two separate but quite complementary reports: Nesta’s Green jobs: Rapid evidence review, and Business in the Community’s ‘routemap’ for Building green skills.
Artificial intelligence (AI). With the ‘stable release’ of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in March, awareness of the potential impact of AI on learning, skills and assessment is quickly growing. QAA is running a series of webinars on the rise of AI and concerns about academic integrity. City of Glasgow College is seeking input on its Draft Guidance for Learners on Use of AI. An OECD report is asking Is education losing the race with technology?. And a Scottish Parliament committee is asking about AI’s potential impact on assessment.
Tertiary education futures. The Royal Society of Edinburgh published the final report from its project on how post-school education might evolve, and a new UCAS Journey to a million national debate is exploring implications of the projected 30% growth of annual HE applicants.
Other items worth highlighting:
Want to keep on top of all the developments? Become an Informed Scotland subscriber. Email [email protected] to request the latest copy.
Posted by admin on March 13, 2023 ·
February was a quieter month for learning & skills. Yet there was no shortage of must-read reports and significant announcements, including:
Choice, Attainment and Positive Destinations, a report from University of Stirling researchers into the impact of Curriculum for Excellence, funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Authors Prof Mark Priestley and Marina Shapira, describe it as ‘a stark picture of curriculum reform that has diverged considerably from its original aims with significant unintended consequences … and serious equity concerns’.
The interim report of the Independent Review of Qualifications & Assessment led by Prof Louise Hayward, featuring the model proposed to replace the existing system. Although published on 3 March, it’s included this month because of a tight 7 April feedback deadline.
A new joint project on The Future of Learning and Teaching launched by the Scottish Funding Council, Education Scotland, QAA Scotland, sparqs and College Development Network. It will look at ‘defining and delivering an effective and inclusive digital/blended offering’.
Other reports to highlight:
And more news for podcast fans with four new series now being broadcast: Skillscast by Skills Development Scotland; from QAA on the biggest issues in HE; Research Matters by College Development Network; and from Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Collaborative.
This week is SCQF Week 2023, on the theme ‘Recognising Skills & Qualifications for the Future’. Finally, it’s once again worth checking out our Learning & Skills Events Calendar for other themed weeks, and a growing number of in-person and hybrid events. Let us know of any you’d like included.
Want to keep on top of all the developments? Become an Informed Scotland subscriber. Email [email protected] to request the latest copy.
Posted by admin on February 15, 2023 ·
The last two months were prolific for learning & skills, despite including the festive period. Alongside numerous new courses and resources, annual statistics and surveys, and budget, investment and personnel announcements, take a look at:
There was also news for podcast fans. A Wee Bit of Everything was launched by the Scottish Association of Teachers of PE, and Research Matters by the University of the West of Scotland. UWS is the latest university to use podcasts to share its research stories. Others include University of St Andrews’ One Square Mile…, University of Aberdeen’s Café Connect and SRUC’s Podcast. And this month the QAA has launched a podcast on the ‘biggest issues’ facing higher education, and Skills Development Scotland launched Skillscast, on issues affecting Scotland’s skills landscape.
Themed weeks and events coming up include: Cyber Scotland Week 27 February–5 March, Scottish Apprenticeship Week 6–10 March and SCQF Week 13–17 March.
Become an Informed Scotland subscriber so you can keep on top of all the developments. Email [email protected] to request a copy of the latest issue.
Posted by admin on January 6, 2023 ·
Which learning & skills topics appeared on the most covers of Informed Scotland over the past year? Here’s the tenth annual list.
=1. Recruitment, vacancies & workforce shortages (NEW)
=1. Qualifications, exams, assessment & review (=9 in 2021)
=3. Energy transition & net zero skills & jobs (NEW)
=3. Skills shortages & gaps – upskilling & reskilling (=1)
=5. Careers guidance & career services review (=9)
=5. Developing the young workforce & early careers (=4)
=5. Poverty related attainment gap & challenge (–)
=5. School education reforms (=4)
=5. Science, technology, engineering & maths (STEM) (–)
=5. Students – experience & perspective (–)
Two topics share the top spot:
- Qualifications, exams, assessment & review is up from joint ninth place in 2021. ‘Qualifications…’ has been in the list five times, but this year its inclusion is driven by the Independent Review of Qualifications & Assessment launched by the Scottish Government at the end of 2021.
- Recruitment, vacancies & workforce shortages is one of two topics in the list for the first time. Its entry reflects the continued impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, Scotland’s unemployment rate falling to a record low of 3.1% in September, wages not keeping pace with inflation plus the shortage of skilled workers in growth sectors.
In joint third place are Energy transition & net zero skills & jobs, the second first timer on the list, and Skills shortages & gaps. The latter has made every annual list except one, and this is its second year in the top three. In 2022 the main shortages and gaps were in green skills/skills for net zero, cybersecurity, engineering, construction and social care.
There were two surprise omissions: Digital skills didn’t make the list – or indeed the top three – for the first time ever! It slipped to joint 11th place, after holding the top spot five times including a year ago. And after two years at the top, Covid-19 was also missing – the biggest surprise was that it didn’t even appear on one cover in 2022.
Among the topics that appeared on a cover for the first time was the ‘Cost of living crisis’ – expect to see this back on the list for 2023.
What other topics are expected to be ‘hot’ this year? The two 2022 new entries – ‘Recruitment, vacancies & workforce shortages’ and ‘Energy transition & net zero skills & jobs’ – are likely to be back. Also expect to see ‘School education reforms’ and ‘Qualifications…’ on the list again as the outcomes of the reviews come to a head. The Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape is also due to report in the spring – it’s had a much lower profile but its outcomes could make an impact.
Make it your New Year’s resolution to be better informed about what’s happening across learning & skills in Scottish business, schools, further & higher education, community & adult learning, and government & wider society. Contact [email protected] to receive a recent copy of Informed Scotland and find out how to subscribe here.
