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Chamber and committees

Meeting of the Parliament [Draft]

Meeting date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024


Contents


Fife College (125th Anniversary)

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-12165, in the name of David Torrance, on celebrating 125 years of learning with Fife College. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.

Motion debated,

That the Parliament celebrates the 125th anniversary of Fife College, the first ever college to be set up in Fife following the opening of the Lauder Technical College in 1899; understands that local politician and businessman, George Lauder, established the college with funding from his nephew, the famous industrialist, Andrew Carnegie; believes that, for 125 years, the provision of college education in Fife has offered opportunities for thousands of students and benefited the people, communities, and businesses of the area; further believes that the 125th anniversary will be celebrated through a series of special events and initiatives, each of which will pay tribute to what it sees as the incredible legacy of those who laid the groundwork for the success of Fife College all those years ago; notes the launch of a new 125th anniversary scholarship programme to “empower and support” students in their educational journey, while the college builds upon its relationships with institutions in the USA as it aims to explore mutually beneficial opportunities and continue the legacy of its founding benefactors; welcomes the series of events planned for across Fife, which will highlight its alumni programme to celebrate the achievements of former students who have since gone on to make their mark across the globe; further notes the planned revival of the annual Lauder Lecture, coinciding with the college’s birthday in October 2024; considers that the event will serve as a platform for thought leaders to share insights and knowledge, embodying the spirit of George Lauder’s commitment to education; understands that the aims of the college remain the same today as they did 125 years ago, and that they are to provide opportunity for all, to deliver outstanding education and training, to contribute to the economic prosperity of the region and its communities, and to help students, staff and the communities that it serves to be the best that they can be; commends what it sees as the hard work and dedication of all staff, past and present, and wishes everyone at Fife College a bright future.

17:17  

David Torrance (Kirkcaldy) (SNP)

It is an immense honour to open this members’ business debate as we mark an extraordinary milestone in the history of Fife College—its 125 years of delivering education and opportunities to the people of Fife and across Scotland. As an alumnus of Fife College, it is a privilege for me to lead the debate, and I thank my colleagues who supported the motion.

I welcome to the public gallery visitors who are representing Fife College, including the principal, Jim Metcalfe, and the vice-principal, Sarah-Jane Linton, and visitors who have travelled to celebrate this important occasion with us. Special mention must be given to the Fife College professional cookery and hospitality students who are in Parliament this evening to take over the members’ restaurant—they are already hard at work, preparing for tonight’s service. My staff and I, along with a number of my colleagues, are looking forward to sampling the delicious menu that they have planned.

One hundred and twenty-five years ago, a bold vision was realised in the heart of Fife with the establishment of an institution that was dedicated to providing accessible high-quality education to all who sought it. Since its inception, Fife College has remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering academic excellence, innovation and inclusivity. Today, as we celebrate the milestone anniversary, we pay tribute to the pioneers and visionaries who shaped the college’s journey and made it a beacon of learning, as it is today.

It was in 1899 that Fife College, which was then known as Lauder Technical College, was established by a local politician and businessman, George Lauder, with generous funding from his nephew, the renowned industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The college emerged as the first-ever college in Fife and laid the foundation for a tradition of excellence in education that has endured for more than a century.

As many will know, the history of Fife is deeply interwoven with the coal-mining industry, and the legacy of our mines resulted in an economic, cultural and societal shift for everyone across Fife. Kirkcaldy Technical College and the then new Lauder College at Halbeath, formed from the old Lauder and Cowdenbeath colleges, adapted quickly to that major industrial shift. Offering former miners a plethora of educational opportunities, which were desperately needed in the coalfield communities, the institutions offered tailored courses, programmes and services. Following the further merger of Adam Smith College, Carnegie College and the non-land-based elements of the Elmwood campus of Scotland’s Rural College—SRUC—in 2013, Fife College as we know it today was created.

The college has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion; it has provided opportunities for individuals from all walks of life to pursue their educational aspirations and shaped lives by equipping students with the skills, knowledge and confidence that they need to succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. The students—past, present and future—are the heartbeat of the college, and it is their ambition, creativity and curiosity that drive Fife College to continue to innovate and inspire.

Throughout this 125-year journey, one thing has remained constant—the college’s commitment to its core mission of providing high-quality education and skills training that prepares students for the real world. Hundreds of thousands of learners have walked through its doors, many of whom have gone on to achieve remarkable things. Take William Curley, for example—a world-renowned and award-winning patissier and expert in all things chocolate. Born in Methil and trained at Glenrothes College, he gained the skills that would lead him into training with the country’s finest chefs.

Some students have even gone on to become well-kent faces on our television screens, such as Shirley Henderson, Dougray Scott and Edith Bowman, to name but a few. From engineers to artists, and from healthcare professionals to entrepreneurs, Fife College has been a launch pad for careers and has helped to fuel the industries that drive our local and national economies.

However, celebrating this milestone is about not only looking back but recognising how Fife College is moving forward. In an ever-changing world, adaptability and lifelong learning have never been more important. The education landscape is shifting at a rapid pace and, in response, Fife College continues to evolve by embracing digital learning, green technologies and industry partnerships to ensure that students are equipped with not only the knowledge but the skills and the values that will help them to thrive in tomorrow’s world.

Through its partnership with Scotland Gas Networks to establish the United Kingdom’s first-ever hydrogen training facility, Fife College is truly at the forefront of helping to shape a cleaner and greener future for Scotland. By upskilling more than 200 gas engineers at its cutting-edge Levenmouth campus, the college is training the vital future workforce that the country so desperately needs to make the transition to clean energy. It is creating a new net zero workforce in Fife by upskilling engineers who are already registered with the Gas Safe Register to work with hydrogen gas. Those engineers will work with SGN’s H100 Fife project, which is the first trial in the world of delivering green hydrogen gas into homes for heating and cooking.

The college has Scotland’s first net zero tertiary education facility on its way, with the addition of the newest Fife College facility at the Dunfermline learning campus. The new facility is the first major development to be adapted to the Scottish Government’s net zero public sector building standards, and it will be net zero ready on completion. The campus will be modern, flexible and low carbon, and it will deliver a first-class sustainable learning environment that gives students the best learning experience possible.

Education is more than just a pathway to knowledge—it is a transformative force that empowers individuals to reach their full potential and create a positive change in their lives and communities. Fife College has served as a catalyst for transformation by equipping students with the skills, knowledge and confidence that they need to succeed in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Through its diverse range of programmes and initiatives, the college has opened doors to new opportunities, expanded horizons and inspired generations of Fifers to dream big and pursue their aspirations.

In reflecting on my own time at Kirkcaldy campus, which was more years ago than I care to admit, I am reminded of the opportunities that the college provided for me to pursue my educational aspirations and achieve my goals in mechanical engineering. Fife College empowered me to unlock my full potential and chart my own path to success. One of the most enduring aspects of the experience was the sense of community that permeated every aspect of campus life. During my time there, I forged friendships and professional connections that have enriched my life immeasurably.

More recently, as an MSP, I have had the privilege of witnessing at first hand the positive impact that Fife College has on individuals, families and businesses throughout the region. The college’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion means that everyone with the desire to learn has a chance to do so. Whether it is through apprenticeships, part-time courses, full-time studies or degree courses, Fife College offers pathways for everyone.

As we reflect on the past 125 years, we must also look to the future with optimism and determination. In an era that is defined by rapid technological advancements and global challenges, the role of education has never been more critical. I know that Fife College will continue to evolve and innovate and to embrace new opportunities and challenges while staying true to its core values and missions.

As a former student, I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to share my reflections on the profound impact that Fife College has had on my life and those of countless others. Looking ahead, I am confident that the college will continue to build on its legacy of excellence and contribute to the prosperity of not only Fife but the whole of Scotland.

As we move forward, let us remember the words of Nelson Mandela:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Fife College has been wielding that power for 125 years. I am excited to see the transformational impact that it will continue to have for generations to come. I congratulate Fife College on its 125 extraordinary years.

We move to the open debate.

17:25  

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)

I am grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to the history and achievements of Fife College. I thank David Torrance for bringing the debate to the chamber. This is Parliament’s opportunity to recognise a legacy of learning that has been growing for more than a century. The motion mentions Lauder Technical College, which was founded in 1899. The modern-day Fife College also incorporates previous institutions such as the former Buckhaven Mining School, Cowdenbeath Technical College and Kirkcaldy Technical School.

If we fast forward to today, Fife College is the home of more than 20,000 students. It has five campuses that are spread across the heart of Fife, where it delivers 400 further and higher education courses. During the summer recess, I visited the college’s Dunfermline campus, where I had a constructive and positive meeting with the principal, Jim Metcalfe. His focus is on raising the college’s profile and delivering community benefits and economic growth across the region. Although he has been in his post for just over a year, I have no doubt that the college will continue to flourish under his stewardship.

As with other colleges across Scotland, Fife College is expanding its international outreach and building strong relationships with its overseas partners. The college awards an annual bursary for college students to study in the US. This year, Dunfermline-based students Camryn Provan and Megan Simpson were given the opportunity to study in New York. The bursaries were awarded by William Garner, who is the great-great-grandson of the college’s founder, George Lauder. They form an important part of the college’s Adam Smith scholarship programme.

I welcome the college’s plans, as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, to further develop such international outreach. That will include strengthening ties with institutions in the US, such as Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, which has a shared heritage involving George Lauder and Andrew Carnegie.

Scotland’s colleges play such an important role in our further and higher education landscape. It is important that we take every opportunity to celebrate the work that they do, at the highest level, to create benefits for individuals and their career paths. Unfortunately, the work of our colleges is becoming more and more difficult.

Shona Struthers, who is the outgoing chief executive of Colleges Scotland, has highlighted the uncertainty that colleges face. Cuts are inevitable. College budgets have been falling for many years—17 per cent has been taken off in just the past three years. Colleges stand ready to tackle Scotland’s skills shortages, whether they be in Fife or in other parts of Scotland. However, that mission currently faces an uphill battle.

This welcome debate gives us a chance not only to celebrate Fife College’s achievements but to highlight the challenges that it faces. For 125 years, Fife College has provided opportunities for young people, and it continues to go from strength to strength.

I welcome the opportunity to celebrate the college’s success, and I congratulate its staff, students and alumni, who are reaching out to people through their many activities during the anniversary. I wish them all the best for the future as they continue to inspire young minds, create new skills and open up opportunities for the future for people all across Mid Scotland and Fife.

17:29  

Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)

I am very pleased to have been called to speak in the debate on Fife College’s 125th anniversary, and I congratulate my colleague David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, on having secured it. I, too, welcome to the gallery the representatives from Fife College. I very much look forward to the fabulous meal that the college’s catering students are preparing as we speak, as they take over the members’ restaurant for the evening.

We have heard from David Torrance about the origins of the college, and it comes as no surprise to hear that Andrew Carnegie played a key role. Such foresight was shown in 1899 to establish a place of learning to provide opportunities for all and to contribute to the economic prosperity of communities across Fife. As MSP for the Cowdenbeath constituency, I have seen first hand the key role that Fife College has played in ensuring that all young people have a chance in life—a chance to learn a trade; a chance to pursue their interests in myriad courses; and a chance to start their journey into the world of work.

When I was Minister for Youth and Women’s Employment, which was some years ago, I had the opportunity to work to ensure that the developing the young workforce programme, which was devised under the leadership of Sir Ian Wood, was put into practice. I know how enthusiastically schools across Fife and Fife College took up that programme.

Since that time, the core principles of the programme have become embedded in Fife—which perhaps is not the case in certain other parts of Scotland—and have benefited thousands of young people. We have seen many foundation apprenticeships, modern apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships across Fife, with key support being provided by the college and local businesses.

We have also seen close relationships between the schools and the college across the kingdom, all of which are intended to ensure that young people have options for their future, and that no one—but no one—is written off. There is no single road to travel, and it is important that we do all that we can to ensure that young people know and understand that.

As has been referred to, there are a number of scholarship opportunities at Fife College, with the Adam Smith scholarship programme having been established in 1997. Since that time, I believe that more than £1 million has been awarded in scholarships, with a number of private sector companies and individuals providing generous funding.

As well as providing rightful recognition of success, the scholarships have made a financial contribution to students’ lives and education. In some cases, as we have heard, that has involved study trips abroad and internships, all of which are designed to support and encourage students to achieve their full potential.

I am pleased to note the launch of the new 125th anniversary scholarship programme. I look forward to hearing about the detail of the programme, so that I can ensure that my constituents in Cowdenbeath know exactly what might be on offer to them.

I wish all staff at the college all the very best with the 125th anniversary celebrations, and I take this opportunity to thank them for all that they do to make a difference to the lives of young people across Fife and beyond.

17:33  

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

I, too, thank David Torrance for bringing this debate to the chamber, which gives us a welcome opportunity to highlight Fife College’s 125th anniversary and to celebrate the college and its students and staff.

I imagine that the members’ restaurant will be busy tonight, as professional cookery and hospitality students from Fife College are hosting a dining event in the Holyrood room. Collaborating with the in-house kitchen and front-of-house teams, students from the college will be involved in all aspects of the event. I look forward to dining there later this evening.

Today, the college has been taking part in the Fife university and higher education fair at the Carnegie Conference Centre. Our colleges and their staff play a vital role in Scotland’s education system. This year, Fife College guaranteed an offer of a place to all eligible school leavers in Fife who had submitted an application on time, promising to help every school pupil who met the minimum entry requirements to find a course that suited their individual circumstances in order to help them to achieve their potential.

The strength of colleges lies not only in their provision for school leavers, but in the fact that they provide a route back to education and learning for many people. The 125th anniversary of Fife College is a significant milestone, and we are rightly celebrating the opportunities that have been provided to, and the achievements of, the thousands of students who have been educated there.

Through strong links with both local areas and workplaces, and through relationships further afield, Fife College students are offered a broad educational experience that will help them to prepare for the world of work while ensuring that they get the most out of their time in education. The completion of the new campus in Dunfermline next year should provide another opportunity for partnership working with high schools, and I look forward to the official opening.

Fife College runs one of the most substantial modern apprenticeship programmes in Scotland, and it has partnered with more than 189 employers, with apprentices in the engineering, construction, automotive, plumbing, gas engineering and life sciences sectors all beginning their journeys there. In August, the college welcomed a record intake of 350 first-year modern apprentices. That includes a record number of engineering modern apprentices, and the college has worked with 43 employers to provide opportunities for local engineers to earn while they learn, which is an important aspect of college learning.

One of the college’s key partners is Babcock, which delivers advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding in Rosyth. The company will take on 400 apprentices over the next four years, and Fife College is, this year, providing 48 apprentices as part of its intake. The college also has other partnerships, including with the RES Group, which runs the Earlseat Wind Farm just outside Coaltown of Wemyss. It will support 125 local apprenticeships in the renewables sector across the lifetime of the wind farm.

The motion recognises

“the launch of a new 125th anniversary scholarship programme to ‘empower and support’ students in their educational journey”,

building on

“relationships with institutions in the USA”.

As Annabelle Ewing highlighted, the college already provides support through the Adam Smith scholarship, with around 30 scholarships available each year. Those are funded by a range of companies, individuals and organisations, including Shell and Diageo, Ian Rankin and the Russell Trust. The scholarships provide cash for resources such as laptops, software and books, as well as offering mentoring and placement opportunities in the UK and abroad. As Alexander Stewart highlighted, the George Lauder bursary in particular continues the legacy of the college’s founding benefactors by offering a valuable opportunity to study and live in the US for the summer that is fully supported, including food, travel and accommodation.

Another important aspect of student life is the social experience, and the Fife College Students Association works hard to support students in their classes and skills development as well as in their social life through sports, societies and events. This week, various freshers events are taking place, as well as a party to celebrate 10 years of the association.

I was delighted to attend the college’s end-of-year showcase at the Glen pavilion in Dunfermline, which was a chance for me to see some of the students’ impressive work on display, and to talk to some of them about their experiences on their courses. From computer games to drama, there was a real range of work on show. I was also pleased to attend the college’s creative industries graduation in Kirkcaldy, where it was great to see the students celebrate and have all their hard work recognised.

I am pleased that, this evening, we are able to celebrate this anniversary and recognise the hard work of all Fife College staff and students, past and present. I wish them the very best for their continued success.

17:38  

Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)

I join members in thanking David Torrance for lodging the motion on 125 years of Fife College. His motion rightly celebrates the origins of the college, its long history and the huge positive benefit that it has had on generations of Fifers and their communities.

It was lovely for us to meet the students in the members’ restaurant earlier; there was a huge amount of enthusiasm, and I think that we will see some real stars of the hospitality sector emerge from that group of young people. I am hugely optimistic, and I am looking forward to my dinner later on.

I will share a few thoughts on the future of the college and the critical role that it is playing in this century in the fight against climate change. It is the colleges, as much as—if not more than—the universities, that will be needed on the front line of that fight. Building the workforce of the future with practical skills for the delivery of net zero infrastructure will be critical. Supply chains will need to be transformed in the next five years to decarbonise our homes, service wind farms, restore peatland and plant woodland. Even industrial big hitters such as the Mossmorran plant in Fife will need to transition to a cleaner, greener future.

I welcome the fact that Fife College has already been part of the skills conversation at Mossmorran, and has a range of courses that are supporting the transition of our entire economy. The growth of well-paid, skilled jobs in the green economy needs to offer a bright future for young people at the start of their careers, as well as a future for those who are looking to transition into new green jobs. That is another reason why the Scottish Green Party wants restoration of the £26 million that was allocated in last year’s budget for transformation in our college sector.

We cannot hold back when there are sectors of our economy that are unable to scale up to meet the challenge of climate change and the opportunities that we are presented with. Claire Baker talked about wind. In 2016, I visited Fife College in Rosyth and met a number of students who were on the wind turbine technician course. It was exciting to see the pride that they had in growing their skills and to hear about their expectations around apprenticeships and the work that they would be doing on the next generation of wind farms. As Claire Baker outlined, it is great to see that more of those apprenticeships are now starting to be taken up. I hope that the number of those apprenticeships dramatically increases in the years ahead, because the doubling of onshore wind farm capacity between now and 2030, and the revolution that is gathering pace in offshore wind in particular, point to a really bright future. Of course, we know that there are investment opportunities in Fife, particularly in Burntisland at the moment, in relation to offshore wind.

Alongside that, I also recognise the work that is happening at Fife College’s Leven campus to develop skills in green hydrogen. To be fair, from my perspective, the jury remains out on whether hydrogen will ever be a cost-effective way to heat the majority of our homes. However, it is an area of innovation, and decarbonising heating remains a huge opportunity in the next decade. I hope that the college can also realise the far bigger opportunities surrounding the installation and servicing of heat pumps, as well as district heating, which together have the potential to power around a quarter of Scotland’s homes. There are great jobs and great potential in that area, and I hope that the college remains at the heart of that.

Of course, climate change is about more than specialist professions. It affects us all, so I was pleased to see the focus that the college has brought to the issue. The Adam Smith scholarships that were awarded to three students for their writing and art that reflected on what climate change means for them in their personal life and studies was a small but important example of climate leadership.

Fife College’s climate change strategy and action plan should also be commended. The cut in emissions by more than a half since 2014 is great progress, and plans to further strip out fossil fuel use from its operations are key, including those for Scotland’s first net zero campus in Dunfermline, which is a huge milestone for the college and for Fife.

I thank David Torrance again for bringing the debate to the chamber. I enjoyed hearing about his experience of going to college—I certainly cherished the time that I spent at Stevenson College many years ago. I thank the college staff, who do amazing work to inspire our young people and people returning to education. Let us look forward to the next 125 years—they are going to be momentous.

17:42  

Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)

I congratulate David Torrance on securing this debate celebrating 125 years of Fife College. The motion says that the college has provided opportunities for thousands of students, benefiting people and communities across Fife, and that is absolutely the case.

Today, I was reflecting on the fact that, when I was growing up in Fife, there were two large industries: the pits or coal mines, with the largest employer being the National Coal Board; and Rosyth dockyard and naval base, where the employer was the Ministry of Defence. People who grew up in Fife at that time and were recruited into one of those areas would end up at the college—we called it the tech in those days—where they would get an apprenticeship. The truth is that people in that position in my generation never looked back. If they got an apprenticeship, they got real jobs and were successful in their lives.

That perhaps points to a lesson that we can reflect on today. In the past couple of decades, there has been an obsession with getting young people into universities—that was somehow the goal. However, when I go into schools and speak to pupils, I say to them that they can go to university or they can go to college, and that college can give them an opportunity, a career and a trade that will let them be successful—that is what life has taught me over the past number of years.

As we look to the future, there must be a discussion about the role of colleges, their importance and the direction that they are going in. Today, I also reflected on the fact that, at one point, I was a member of Fife Regional Council and sat on the education committee when the colleges came under the management of local authorities. In those days, there was clear direction as to where colleges were going and what they were to deliver for communities across Fife. We now have Colleges Scotland and so on, and over the years I think that some of the direction has been lost. The Government needs to start setting out much more clearly what that direction needs to be. The relationship and the partnerships with employers are very important. I stress the word “partnership”—it is not about colleges dictating to employers what is available; it is about coming together and forming a partnership.

The reality is that, across Scotland, we have major skills gaps in certain areas. It is important that colleges continue to play an important role in supporting students in the social sciences. If we look at social care, we see massive gaps that mean that we cannot provide the services right now. I meet catering and hospitality companies up and down Scotland that tell me that they are unable to recruit. I believe that that requires the Government to look at an industrial strategy for the whole of Scotland and colleges’ place in that and to give much clearer direction.

Audit Scotland recently confirmed that Scottish Government funding to colleges has been reduced in real terms by 17 per cent since 2021-22. I have met many college lecturers and staff in the past few years. Unfortunately, I met them on picket lines, because I was there to support them during the industrial action that we have seen. Thankfully, that now seems to have been put to bed, but my appeal to the minister is for the Scottish Government to give colleges much clearer direction on what we expect them to deliver and ensure that that is properly resourced.

I say well done to Fife College. It has had a major impact on the lives of many people throughout Fife over many years, and I look forward to going to the restaurant tonight.

17:47  

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans (Graeme Dey)

I add my thanks to David Torrance for securing the debate, and I welcome the opportunity to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first college in Fife.

As we reflect on an era that has straddled three different centuries, we can also look to what lies ahead, as Mr Torrance did during his opening remarks. As we have already heard, when considering how Fife College came to be what it is now, we have to go back to the founding of Lauder Technical School in Dunfermline in 1899, Buckhaven Mining School in 1926 and Kirkcaldy Technical School in 1929. A series of renaming and merging has followed, with a number of colleges and technical schools delivering the skilled workforce that was needed by employers in Fife over those many decades.

Something that those institutions in Fife displayed was considerable adaptability as the times changed and the demands of employers changed with them. It is interesting to reflect on that journey as we look to the next chapter for Scotland’s colleges in the reform of the post-16 education landscape.

Decades ago, there tended to be more dominant local industries, as Alex Rowley noted, industry investment in training, and often a job for life. We have increasingly moved to a much more complex world, where the dominant local industries and employers are more diverse, the skills demands in businesses are varied, the social, cultural and environmental backdrop has changed, and there is an increasing need for continued upskilling throughout our lifetime. This next chapter will require college delivery to again show how adaptable it can be. It will increasingly need to be agile and responsive to regional, social, economic, business and environmental needs. I recognise that, to do that, colleges will need to be trusted and enabled to deliver.

What might the next 125 years look like for Fife College and the wider college sector? Since college regionalisation—the process by which Fife College came into being—about 10 years ago, Scotland’s colleges have cemented their position as anchor institutions in the communities and regions that they serve. The recent reviews across our education and skills system have highlighted that there is much good in the system, and it is important that we recognise that. However, improvements can be made and an appetite for reform exists widely.

The Government has been clear on the broad actions that we want to take, including reforming the public body landscape; taking responsibility for skills planning and development approaches that deliver autonomy to regions; enhancing and embedding the role of employers in shaping the system in partnership, which Alex Rowley called for; exploring the future of our national careers service; and reforming the way in which funding is allocated and delivered.

I very much enjoyed Alex Rowley’s speech, but I disagree with him slightly on his point about the Government directing colleges. I do not believe that it is for the Government to prescriptively direct colleges, but the Government should empower colleges, particularly their principals, to strike up the local partnerships that Mr Rowley called for.

Mr Rowley also referenced resources. I absolutely recognise, as I have done many times, that colleges face financial challenges, which are a legacy of the previous Conservative Government’s austerity agenda. It is to be hoped that the new Labour Government in Westminster will be less inclined to undermine the Scottish Government’s ability to support the further education sector as I would want us to do.

In all the areas that I noted a moment ago, colleges can—and, I believe, will—make a difference to learners and communities over the next number of years, just as Fife College has done over the past 125 years. That is why we are committed to working with the sector and other key stakeholders and users of the system as we continue to develop our approach to reform. It is about making the system better, ensuring that we get the best outcomes from the significant investment that we already make and, ultimately, supporting students into sustainable and rewarding employment.

Exciting times lie ahead, particularly for Fife College, led by the principal, Jim Metcalfe, and the chair, David Watt, who are with us tonight, along with a number of colleagues. In August, I had the pleasure of visiting the new net zero learning campus in Dunfermline for the third time, along with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. It was good to tour the build to see how construction is progressing. The campus is an excellent example of the future of learning in Scotland—a shared campus for schoolchildren and college students, with a focus on innovation and energy efficiency in the drive towards net zero.

There is much to be celebrated at Fife College. For example, there are many articulation agreements with university partners, and all the college’s higher national diploma programmes have at least one articulation route with advanced standing into a degree course. The college is also working closely with many employers of different sizes to design and deliver bespoke courses that provide employees with the necessary skills and qualifications for their current roles and/or successful career progression.

From Lauder Technical School opening in 1899, further education in Fife has come a long way, but it retains the same underlying principles. In his speech at the opening ceremony, George Lauder said:

“When I found myself at the age of 25 with a deficient education for the trade I had got engaged in, I resolved that every youth that came under my influence would get a good technical and literary training.”

That, in essence, remains the heartbeat of our college sector today. It provides education and training for a wide group of learners with different backgrounds, experiences and levels of prior attainment, and it gives them the opportunity to achieve their potential and obtain the qualifications that are required for a skilled workforce.

I am pleased to note the range of scheduled commemorative events, from those involving the communities that the college serves to those overseas, where the influence of its founding fathers such as Carnegie and Lauder is well known. The launching of an alumni programme is also to be commended. I hope that it will reveal some surprises. Who knows? Maybe there will be some alumni more famous than David Torrance. I wish Fife College well in its celebrations and for the future, as it builds on the legacy of learning that Alexander Stewart referenced.

That concludes the debate. Bon appétit.

Meeting closed at 17:54.