Public Audit Committee
Scotland's colleges 2023
Background
On 7 September 2023, the Auditor General for Scotland published Scotland's colleges 2023.
The report says:
"Scotland’s colleges are vital to learners and local communities. Risks to the college sector’s financial sustainability have increased since we reported in 2022. Rising staffing costs are colleges’ biggest financial pressure.
The Scottish Government’s funding for the sector has reduced by 8.5 per cent in real terms between 2021/22 and 2023/24, while the sector’s costs have increased. Effective, affordable workforce planning is now a greater than ever priority and challenge for colleges".
Read the report on Audit Scotland's website
Information about the Public Audit Committee's consideration of the report can be found below.
Meetings
26 October 2023
The Committee took evidence from:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Mark MacPherson, Audit Director, Tricia Meldrum, Senior Manager; and Douglas Black, Audit Manager, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 26 October 2023
Read the Official Report, 26 October 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 26 October 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to hold a roundtable evidence session with representatives from the colleges sector, followed by an evidence session with the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government at future meetings.
30 November 2023
The Committee took evidence in a roundtable format from:
Stuart Brown, National Officer, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS); Ellie Gomersall, President, National Union of Students Scotland; John Mooney, Regional Organiser, UNISON; Derek Smeall, Principal and Chief Executive, Glasgow Kelvin College (representing the College Principals' Group); and Andrew Witty, Director of Strategic Policy, Colleges Scotland.
Followed by:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Mark MacPherson, Audit Director; and Tricia Meldrum, Senior Manager, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 30 November 2023
Read the Official Report, 30 November 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 30 November 2023
11 January 2024
The Committee took evidence from:
Neil Rennick, Director-General Education and Justice; Stuart Greig, Deputy Director of the Governance and Assurance Division, Scottish Government; and Karen Watt, Chief Executive and Lynn Raeside, Deputy Director of External Affairs, Scottish Funding Council;
Followed by:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Mark MacPherson, Audit Director; Tricia Meldrum, Senior Manager; and Douglas Black, Audit Manager, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 11 January 2024
Read the Official Report, 11 January 2024
Read the meeting minutes, 11 January 2024
Decision: The Committee agreed to consider its next steps upon receipt of further written information on issues raised during the meeting.
Decision: At its meeting on 25 April 2024 the Committee agreed to close its scrutiny of the Scotland's colleges 2023 briefing and in doing so, write to the Education, Children and Young People Committee.