Chamber and committees

Colleges are funded mainly on the basis of an overall level of activity which is agreed between the college and the Scottish Funding Council. Colleges are then expected themselves to decide the nature of the courses which they offer. Colleges are free to alter their provision within the boundaries of the funding they receive, but that of itself would not lead to any reduction in funding.

We have made it clear that we expect all higher and further education institutions to be open and transparent about proposals for rationalisation, ensuring that the views of academics, staff, unions and students are taken fully into account before any final decisions are made. As independent bodies, universities and colleges are responsible for making their own arrangements for consultation.

The Scottish Government maintains regular dialogue with Scotland’s Colleges, which is the representative body of the sector. All colleges, including West Lothian College, are having to operate within a reduced budget as a result of the reduction by the UK Government of £1.3 billion in Scotland’s block grant.

Colleges are responsible for taking their own decisions on the learning opportunities they offer. However ministers were greatly encouraged that the sector has agreed to maintain in 2011-12 the same number of core student places as in the current academic year.

Successive Scottish ministers have had no statutory locus for determining provision in universities or colleges. The Scottish Funding Council is the body charged in law with ensuring coherent provision in both sectors.

Ministers and officials engage regularly with a range of bodies and institutions which have an interest in the higher education and college sectors, including universities, colleges and their representative bodies and with trade unions and NUS Scotland.

Despite the cuts imposed on our budget by the UK government, we are continuing to make substantial investments in our colleges and universities, and are committed to maintaining the excellence of their learning and teaching.

The Scottish Funding Council is responsible for ensuring that the higher education institutions and colleges which it funds have suitable provision in relation to their governance and management, and undertakes an annual review of institutions to ensure they meet this and other criteria. The importance of high standards of governance is reflected in the terms of the financial memorandum between the Scottish Funding Council and each institution. This places an obligation on the governing body to strive to achieve good practice in the governance, management and conduct of the institution.

Colleges and universities are also required to include a statement on corporate governance in their annual financial statements, and external auditors review whether that statement complies with the requirements of the Scottish Funding Council.

As a government, we also attach considerable importance to high standards of governance in our universities and colleges. We have previously made plain our intention to take a fresh look at their governance arrangements and will bring forward our plans in due course.

These changes have been subject to consultation and are integral to the proposal that Strathclyde becomes one of Europe's foremost technological universities. In situations such as this, we always ensure that the Scottish Funding Council has due regard to it's statutory role of securing coherent provision across Scotland and the impact any changes have on all groups of students.

As the body which oversees the funding and provision of further and higher education in Scotland, the Scottish Government looks to the Scottish Funding Council to provide expert advice to ministers on all aspects relating to the future strategic direction of the sectors, on an ongoing basis.

Both the further and higher education sectors have agreed that core student places will be maintained in 2011-12.