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The economic impact of City of Glasgow College, December 2020 - Fraser of Allander Institute
Introduction
In 2010, City of Glasgow College was formed through the merger of Central College Glasgow, Glasgow
Metropolitan College, and Glasgow College of Nautical Studies.
Its formation secured a £228 million investment into state-of-the-art campuses on Cathedral Street
(City Campus) and on the banks of the River Clyde (Riverside Campus).
These campuses are large enough to accommodate 40,000 students, making it the largest in Europe.
Their design is world-leading with the very latest technology and industry-standard facilities.
The College offers around 2,000 courses each year, from Creative Industries to STEM.
Full-time and part-time courses are provided, along with distance and work-based learning. As a
further and higher education institution, the College offers course that span access level through to
degree qualifications.
But the College does much more than teach.
It is a major employer in Glasgow, supporting jobs - both directly and indirectly - across the local
community.
And by acting as a key anchor institution in Glasgow, it reaches and engages communities, bringing
people together to learn, develop and interact.
The 16,000 graduates each year, provide local businesses with a ready supply of workers.
And the College acts to improve the wellbeing of the people of Glasgow, playing a vital role in
supporting people from all backgrounds to fulfil their economic potential.
Our report is structured as follows.
■ In this chapter we provide a brief overview of City of Glasgow College students and the
College's role in improving economic wellbeing.
■ In Chapter 2, we focus specifically upon the contribution of the College's major economic
footprint to Scotland's economy.
■ In Chapter 3, we model the boost that the College's graduates can be expected to make to
the Scottish economy over the longer term.
■ And in Chapter 4, we look beyond these 'economic' measures to assess the wider
contribution that the College makes to the local community.
Overview
City of Glasgow College is the largest college in Scotland.
In 2018/19, 31,959 students were enrolled at the College - approximately 1 in 10 of every college
enrolment in Scotland.
The City's base is Glasgow. But it attracts students from far and wide. 1 in 2 students enrolled are
from outside the city of Glasgow.