Lifelong Learning Policy in Scotland: Is it making a difference? Jim Gallacher Co-director Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning Glasgow Caledonian University

Lifelong Learning A Framework for Collaboration Parliament Inquiry into Lifelong Learning - published 2002 ( mittees/historic/x-enterprise/reports-02/elr htm) mittees/historic/x-enterprise/reports-02/elr htm Joint Scottish Funding Council for Further and Higher Education (SFC) - established 2005 –SFC Corporate Plan 2006 Scottish Government Director General Education- responsible for education, training and lifelong learning –Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy (Scottish Government, 2007)

Policy Context Increased emphasis on ‘cradle to grave’ approach to lifelong learning Social Inclusion –‘Scotland’s colleges and universities to offer - within the total volume of learning set by Scottish Ministers - fair access to a diverse range of learning programmes suited to individual learners’ (SFC Corporate Plan Aim 1) –Learning for All (Scottish Funding Councils) –Articulation for all (SFC) –Access & Inclusion Committee (SFC) –More Choices More Chances (Scottish Executive, 2006) –Greater emphasis on progression and retention

Skills Development and Employability –‘Learning provision & programmes offered by Scotland’s colleges & universities to be relevant to students lives & careers, society and economy’ (SFC Corporate Plan Aim 2) –Learning to Work (SFC) –SFC Skills Committee –‘Skills for Scotland- A lifelong Learning Skills Strategy’ (Scottish Government 2007) –‘This strategy sets out what our objectives need to be to develop a cohesive lifelong learning system centred upon the individual but responsive to employer needs’ (Skills Strategy) –Skills Development Scotland - established 2008.

Cumulative attainment in publicly funded schools at end of S6 by Gender and SCQF level S4 Role% Achieving 3+ awards at Level 6 % Achieving 5+ awards at Level 6 % Achieving 1+ awards at Level 7 Male30, Female29,

More Choices, More Chances Substantial proportion of age group are in More Choices, More Chances group (Not in education, employment or training) –2006: 11% of young women, 14% of young men –Scotland has lowest percentage of year-olds in education or training in OECD - only about 63% compared with OECD average of 83% (2003 data).

HE Participation Rates Local AuthoritySPR Aberdeen City1.23 Dundee City1.17 East Dunbartonshire1.46 East Renfrewshire1.47 Edinburgh City1.03 Eilan Siar1.23 Falkirk0.76 Fife0.96 Glasgow City0.92 Stirling1.12 Scotland1.0

Scottish domiciled students participation in Colleges and HEIs by level and deprivation quintile College HE level College FE level HEI Least deprived quintile 18%16%31% 2nd quintile19%20%25% Middle quintile19%21%19% 4th quintile22%21%15% Most deprived quintile 22% 10% Total100%

Percentages of students from most deprived quintiles in HE sectors in Scotland Ancient universities 8% 1960 universities 11%12% Post 92 universities 15%14% Colleges18%22%

Young fulltime first degree entrants 2005/06 (HESA PIs) % from NS- SEC classes 4,5,6 & 7 % from low participation neighbourhoods Scotland Wales England Northern Ireland UK

Summary & Challenges Participation rates in HE high - but have declined Age Participation Index (API) - peaked 2001/02 at /06 declined to 47.1 HE in FE a major aspect of HE in Scotland (about 23% of undergraduate level students (f-t & p-t) - but this is declining Persistent and growing gender gap 2005/06 API: Females 53.5 Males 41.0 Persistent social class inequalites