New Campus Glasgow: Strategic Benefits Analysis
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2.10 The response also highlights that colleges need to be flexible enough to meet the
needs of today and to respond to the demands of tomorrow, reflecting demographic change,
economic, societal and technological change, and changes to learning and teaching. It also
notes the increasingly important role that colleges will play in encouraging demand for skills
and helping employers to utilise those skills better.
Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy
2.11 Skills for Scotland, the Scottish Government's Lifelong Skills Strategy, was published
in September 2007. It sets out how Scotland will attain both 'a skilled population and an
economy and society that makes full and productive use of those skills'. It sets out a vision for
a Smarter Scotland with a competitive economy based on high value jobs. This will involve
learning and training providers working as one system, employing wider use of technology
and e-learning.
2.12 Skills for Scotland highlights the need to develop 'successful learners, confident
individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society and the world of work'. In
particular, Skills for Scotland sets out the need for a more flexible, joined-up system, to focus
increasingly on the individual and their needs, aspirations and potential, including provision
for a wider range of vocational learning opportunities.
2.13 Skills for Scotland sets out the need to 'equip individuals with the skills Scotland
needs'. It recognises the different 'starting points' that learners may come from, and aims to
ensure 'flexible provision which is increasingly responsive to the needs of individuals,
employers and the wider economy'. Skills for Scotland aims to:
• Encourage young people to stay in education and training post-16, through good
options and clear pathways out of school.
• Maximise the impact of community-based learning
• Improving transition and progression, and improving the 'fluidity' of transition from
schools
2.14 Skills for Scotland highlights the central role that colleges can and do play in
achieving these aims, and reiterates the points made in the Review of Scotland's Colleges.
2.15 Skills for Scotland also highlights the need to both encourage employer demand for
skills and encourage employees' learning.
2.16 Skills for Scotland identifies a substantial set of 'actions' for learning and training
providers. These include:
• Colleges delivering core employability and vocational skills and training to meet
national, regional and local needs;
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Appendix 13: Economic Impact Report