Tag: Colleges Scotland

Covid: Extra support for students

Students experiencing hardship over summer as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) can apply for financial support if they are struggling to meet accommodation and other costs.

Backed by £20 million of new funding, students in financial hardship can apply directly to their college or university’s Coronavirus Discretionary Fund.

The Scottish Government has also committed to review the future of summer support and the availability of funds will be monitored to ensure support remain available to students throughout summer.   

This latest funding package takes total support for students since the start of the pandemic to more than £96 million.

Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “The pandemic has impacted students significantly and not only has there been disruption to their education, but many students have faced financial difficulties with accommodation, associated costs or challenges in getting jobs. This additional £20 million will help to alleviate the financial pressure and stress facing many of our students over the summer period.

“The Student Hardship Task Force have been a crucial voice in ensuring students are supported this summer and I thank them for their important work.

“The support provided to students over the course of the pandemic has been substantial with now over £96 million being provided via hardship funding, digital access, mental health support and for student associations.”

NUS Scotland President Matt Crilly said: “We welcome additional discretionary funding for students today and that the Scottish Government has recognised the dire situation facing students this summer.

“Many students have already lost crucial part-time jobs, most have received their final student support payment, and are not eligible for Universal Credit, which is why today’s announcement of a summer support review is particularly welcome. We need to see a year-round student support system that ensures no student falls through the cracks and is driven out of education and into poverty.”

National vaccination programme to include international students

International students are to be included in the national coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.  

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has confirmed this will take place in line with guidelines from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for the coming academic year (2021-22).

The move will both protect incoming students during their studies and prevent possible further transmission.

Mr Yousaf said: “There is a huge amount of work going on to ensure that everyone is able to get vaccinated. This is crucial to the success of the programme and our efforts to bring the virus under control.  

“Based on the latest data, we estimate there could be around 65,000 international students studying in Scotland in the next academic year. I am pleased to confirm they will be included in our national vaccination programme.

“Of course many will be from countries where there is a mature vaccination system and they will already be fully or partially vaccinated. However, some may not yet have been vaccinated or may still require a second dose and we are currently working with the Universities and Colleges Scotland as well as local health boards to firm up plans for these students.

“We continue to urge everyone to take up their appointment for a vaccine when it is offered and remember the second dose offers greater and longer protection against the virus.”  

Universities Scotland Director Alastair Sim said: “International students are an integral part of Scotland’s university community. As a part of that community, it’s absolutely vital that they have the same entitlement to a COVID-19 vaccination as other students and we welcome the clarity for international students that the Scottish Government has provided.

“Vaccination is the best route back to normality. For international students arriving in Scotland over the coming months, it is crucial that they know that they will receive all the help they require to stay safe during these uncertain times. Being eligible for a vaccine is an important part of that sense of security and wellbeing.”

Colleges Scotland Chief Executive Shona Struthers said: “We’re pleased to see the expansion of the vaccination programme to international students.

“Colleges welcome international students from around the world every year – we want them to feel safe and protected while they live and study in Scotland, and the community around them to be confident that students have had the opportunity to be vaccinated while they are in Scotland.”

Scotland’s Colleges commit to working together to tackle climate emergency

As Scotland looks forward to hosting the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, Scottish colleges have come together to support a new and ground-breaking statement of commitment on the Climate Emergency.

The ‘Scottish Colleges’ Statement of Commitment on the Climate Emergency’, which has been produced by CDN’s college Climate Emergency Expert Group, in partnership with Colleges Scotland and Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), highlights how college staff and students are working together to achieve a more sustainable future for Scotland.

The statement of commitment establishes 10 key actions, which colleges have committed to delivering, with the aim of speeding up efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

10 Key Actions

Support Scotland’s efforts to achieve net-zero climate emissions by 2045 or earlier if possible, with Scotland’s colleges aiming to achieve net-zero by 2040 or earlier.

Embed environmental sustainability in our institutional strategies and set measurable targets.Address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in our strategies.

Address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in our strategies.

Share best practice within and beyond the college/ university sector.

Deploy our expertise and experience to combat climate change.

Contribute to public debate on climate change and use the power of our example to encourage others.

Work with Scottish industry, employers, public sector bodies and others to improve working practices and find practical solutions to climate change and to make our planet safe for future generations.

Encourage, where appropriate, colleges to adopt the UK HE/ FE Climate Commission’s ‘Climate Action Roadmap for FE Colleges.’

Each college will publish action plans to address on-campus and supply chain emissions, setting out what steps they will take over a five-year horizon and beyond where possible, and what they aim to achieve to address the climate emergency.

Educate staff, students, employers and communities on the impact their daily lives and working practices have on the environment/ climate. While working with our partners, local employers and communities to ensure everyone is aware of their personal responsibility to our planet.

Edinburgh College lecturers to strike this week

Edinburgh College lecturers are scheduled for further industrial action this week, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st April in defence of the Further Education sector and the professional status of qualified lecturers. This follows previous strongly supported strike action taken prior to the Easter holidays.

Colleges Scotland’s refusal to ratify their own agreed definition of the lecturer’s role, a definition the union accepts, has so far prevented a settlement. Their refusal threatens to undermine the delivery of quality education to Edinburgh College students, many of whom have over the years seen unqualified staff on poorer pay, terms and conditions deliver qualifications up to HN level.

EIS FELA members will this week also be balloted on Action Short of Strike Action. This constitutes an escalation of the dispute incorporating a withdrawal of good will. 

Edinburgh College Branch Secretary Penny Gower described what is at stake: ‘Our members are losing money by striking, but this action is not for personal gain. It is to make sure our students get the quality of education they deserve.

“All we ask is that the employers ratify their own proposals which we have already accepted. If they care about students they should do that immediately.”

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Our members are continuing to stand firm against the practice of replacing lecturers with less qualified, lower paid staff. Colleges claim that there is no plan to do this, yet they continue to refuse to ratify an agreement that would halt this practice.

“If colleges are not seeking to replace lecturers with lower qualified staff, why are they so reluctant to ratify the agreement – incorporating their own proposals – that would stop it from happening?”

A spokesperson for the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said: “Colleges will do everything they can to ensure that students are supported during this difficult time, and that any disruption is minimised.

“The EIS-FELA has refused repeated requests to suspend the strikes while meaningful discussions carry on – national industrial action is wholly unnecessary.”