The Further and Higher Education Charter for Scotland (1993) sets out a
framework of standards that students, employers and the wider community
should be able to expect from colleges and higher education
institutions. It covers access for students, information about courses
and guidance and counselling, both in relation to their studies and to
careers and further study.
Further Education
All
colleges provide guidance to students in selecting an appropriate
course of study. During courses they provide progress reviews,
curricular and pastoral support and advice and guidance on careers or
further studies. Each college has its own arrangements for providing
these services.
Since 1992 all colleges have also become
signatories to the agreement among higher education institutions
concerning credit accumulation and transfer, because they offer HE
courses at HNC and HND levels.
Colleges have close relationships
with employers in their areas, who are represented on their Boards of
Management. The colleges depend for a considerable part of their work
on employees being sent for training and also on employers for those
parts of courses which take place in the workplace. The Further and
Higher Education Charter for Scotland (1993) makes it clear that
colleges should work with employers, keeping them informed about the
institution, the courses offered, how they are taught, the aims and
objectives of work placements, the amount of time required for study
and the levels of proficiency expected. They should help employers to
select appropriate education and training courses for their staff. They
are also required to report to employers the progress of their
employees who are taking courses and to help employers in recruiting
staff.
The SQA has an Information Centre which provides a range
of services: information for employers, prospective students and others
about qualifications; details of where courses are provided and of the
entry requirements for them; vocational education and training
databases; and publications such as guides on assessment and quality
assurance. The SQA officers are available to offer information and
advice on vocational education and training.
Higher Education
Higher
education institutions have arrangements to advise students on courses
and to deal with their difficulties. The exact form of these differs
according to the institution and often the faculty within the
institution.
The university tradition in Scotland was for
students to start their course with a more general range of subjects
and to proceed to specialised studies. They could thus delay their
decisions about specialisation or change initial intentions. Such
decision making was supported by a member of university staff in a
pastoral role, as Director of Studies or a similar title. However, some
institutions are now offering courses which do not conform to this
structure.
Higher education institutions have relationships with
industry, commerce and the professions on several different levels. The
directors of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) meet regularly with the
Scottish Government to co-ordinate planning and share information over
a range of learning and training issues. SFC is also actively engaged
in the National Scottish Stakeholders Group and informs HEIs about
industry issues through this involvement. HEIs provide courses, for
example in management, tailored to the needs of particular types of
business. They have contacts with firms to help students to obtain
placements when that is a requirement of their course. HEI staff carry
out work for firms as consultants or on secondments. The university
careers services have close contacts with the major employers of
graduates. For their part, some firms commission research from higher
education institutions and send their staff to them for training.
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