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The Courier
4 days ago
- Health
- The Courier
Angus South SNP hopeful vows to fight for 'scunnered' locals and independence
The SNP's Angus South hopeful Lloyd Melville says he'll fight ruthlessly for 'scunnered' locals who are concerned about health and education. Mr Melville, a councillor for the Monifieth and Sidlaw ward, will stand under the SNP banner at the Scottish Parliament election next year as incumbent MSP Graeme Dey stands down. Speaking to The Courier, the 24-year-old Holyrood hopeful set out his priorities in the local school estate and rural healthcare. Mr Melville, who party insiders say is among the 'next generation' of leaders in the SNP, told The Courier: 'We're listening to people at the moment. 'What they are telling us is that there are particular challenges around healthcare, the cost of living, around education. 'People are feeling a bit powerless and scunnered at the moment. My priority is to act on those areas. 'In healthcare, for instance, the Scottish Government is investing targeted sums to bring down waiting times, which is good progress but there is much more that needs to be done. 'What I pledge to do as the candidate is listen to communities across Angus South and ruthlessly and relentlessly stand up for those priorities in the Scottish Parliament.' He added: 'As a local councillor one of the things I've helped to do is deliver record investment in the education estate. 'I think there is more that needs to be done there in terms of rejuvenating the school estate in Angus and making further improvement. 'I want to make sure that we protect our rural healthcare setting and look at what more can be done to ensure that housing developments pays towards the cost of local services like health and social care. 'We know the impact that has, particularly in places like Monifieth.' Asked about his other priorities, Mr Melville says it would be 'remiss' not to say that he wants Scotland to be an independent country. 'That's very much up there on my list of priorities,' he adds. Asked how he would seek to convince voters in Angus, he explained: 'The onus is on us to make sure that independence is relevant. That's what the first minister is seeking to do. 'We have to make independence relevant and interesting again to ordinary folk. That's going to be my focus. It's about delivery in the here and now and relating independence to people's everyday concerns.' SNP MSP Graeme Dey has represented Angus South since 2011 and was re-elected in 2021 with 50.7% of the vote and a majority of more than 6,000. The Scottish Conservatives have selected anti-pylon campaigner and councillor Tracey Smith to face off against Mr Melville. She is founder and chair of the Save Our Mearns pressure group. The party came second at the last election.
Edinburgh Reporter
13-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
DataFest explores real world examples of AI
A conference being held in Assembly Rooms continues until Tuesday afternoon is centred on discussion of data, AI and tech. The theme this year is exploring real world examples of the application of AI. Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, visited the conference on Monday to attend the launch event of DataFest 2025 of a Data and AI Skills Framework. The Data Lab is Scotland's innovation centre for data and AI, and has identified a way of filling the skills gaps in this area. The organisation has devised a framework to create training routes both in education and employability. The framework emphasises the importance of 'foundational skills in establishing a strong baseline in data and AI. These skills equip learners to navigate and leverage data effectively, setting the stage for more advanced studies and professional roles'. Mr Dey said: 'This is an exciting time to be involved in the world of data and AI and the impressive programme for this year's DataFest is testament to the vitality of the sector here in Scotland. 'It is clear that technological advances are transforming how we live and work, driving growth and innovation across a range of sectors. 'The Data Lab's Data and AI Skills Framework will be a vital asset across sectors and communities, driving the knowledge and learning needed to shape Scotland's future – setting the course for success and a future built on the talent that surrounds us.' Anna Ashton-Scott, Head of Skills at The Data Lab, said: 'It can be daunting to know where to get started with data and AI skills, so we created our skills framework to make it easy for people to chart their learning journey and know what skills to build next, for themselves or for their employees. 'Foundational data and AI literacy is becoming essential across job roles in every sector, regardless of seniority, but we know that there are still significant gaps. We hope our updated framework will be a powerful tool to help individuals and organisations progress across foundational, intermediate and advanced literacy levels to ensure no-one is left behind.' The Data and AI Skills Framework builds on the work of the Data Skills for Work project, part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal Data Skills Gateway Programme. The Framework aligns with Scotland's Digital Economy Skills Action Plan (2023-2028), which emphasises the importance of equipping the workforce with the necessary digital competencies to support Scotland's economic vision. Despite advancements in digital education, challenges persist, particularly concerning data skills, the adaptation of AI technologies, and regional disparities, which the Skills Framework hopes to address. Photo of Anna Ashton-Scott, Head of Skills at The Data Lab and Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education and at the launch event at DataFest yesterday. The 80+ strong audience at the launch event at DataFest Photo of the DataFest exhibition hall with (l-r) Fash Fasoro, Founder and CEO of DataKirk, Heather Thomson, CEO of The Data Lab, Louise Meikleham, Senior Data Policy Officer at the Scottish Government and Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education. Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Students to be offered cyber crime protection training
Cyber Resilience and You! Is a free online module that teaches students how to tackle the threats, including phishing attempts, online scams and protecting their devices with essentially security updates. It was funded by the Scottish Government and developed in collaboration with Scottish universities and colleges, and it takes around one hour to complete. It will be distributed to every college and university in Scotland and comes days after Edinburgh's schools and early learning centres were targeted in a phishing attack that resulted in pupils being locked out of revision resources ahead of exams. There has been a number of cyber attacks in the UK in recent weeks with supermarkets Marks and Spencer and the Co-op both targeted. MSP Graeme Dey helped launched the training resource (Image: Abertay University) This new resource will help to teach students at the universities how to protect themselves at a time when it is on the rise. Mr Dey said: 'As we become increasingly digitally connected, the threat of cyber attacks is constant, making it crucial for students to be prepared to deal with these risks during their study. 'This new learning resource provides an opportunity for everyone to enhance their cyber resilience and safeguard against potential threats, whether they are a beginner or already familiar with cyber security.' The new resource was launched during Abertay University's inaugural Cyber Student Showcase, which is a public event to feature innovative projects of final year Computing, Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking students. More than 20 student projects were showcased on a variety of topics including the development of a user-friendly automated vulnerability assessment tool, a one-time password authentication system, a methodology for attributing cyber attacks to specific threat groups and much more. Read More Dr Natalie Coull, Head of the Department of Cybersecurity and Computing, said: 'I am delighted to see the Abertay cyberQuarter hosting the launch of this important resource, reaffirming our status as Scotland's hub for cybersecurity research and innovation. This launch is particularly meaningful, as it aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. 'I am also glad that Mr Dey had the opportunity to engage with our talented students as they showcase their impressive work. Their innovative thinking and commitment showcase their abilities and suggest bright prospects for their futures in cybersecurity and computing." Abertay introduced the world's first Ethical Hacking degree in 2006 and was recently named Cyber University of the Year at the UK Cyber Awards.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Warning Scotland's education system 'teeters on edge of collapse'
The letter to Scotland's minister for higher and further education Graeme Dey MSP has been written by NUS Scotland president Sai Shraddha S Viswanathan and is signed by representatives from the STUC, Unite the Union, EIS, UCU and Unison. They say that the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill, which was published at Holyrood in February, is a critical opportunity to reshape the future of post-16 education in Scotland and demand to be at the heart of shaping it. It comes as some Scottish universities are coming under financial pressure from rising costs and reduced income from international students. READ MORE: Councillors agree new name for relocated high school Study suggests children being let down by knowledge gaps around opioids Attainment gap widens but 95.7 per cent of school leavers in 'positive destination' The letter says that the country's institutions have been forced to rely on 'precarious international student fees' for too long and calls for a sustainable funding model. Ms Viswanathan said: 'The Scottish Government must use the opportunities ahead to address the serious crises being faced by both universities and colleges across Scotland, which are a result of systemic underfunding. 'The livelihoods of dedicated educators, researchers, and support workers are being put at risk and students are paying the price, with learning conditions deteriorating and support services being slashed. 'This is not just about numbers on a balance sheet – it is about people's futures, their jobs, their education, and their lives. 'It is about Scotland's ability to be a world leader in education. 'It is about whether we believe in an accessible, high-quality, well-funded education system or whether we are content to let it collapse in front of us. 'We refuse to let our universities and colleges be decimated by inaction and political neglect. 'Education is the backbone of our society. Without it, we all suffer.' The Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill aims to simplify the funding system for both college and university students and apprentices. The letter comes as the Scottish Government prepares to announce its 2025 Programme for Government next week. Edinburgh University is one of those which has been facing financial difficulties. The institution announced earlier this year that it would have to cut £140 million from its budget to plug a black hole, with job cuts likely. Principal professor Sir Peter Mathieson last month announced that the university's voluntary severance scheme had concluded and around 350 staff had opted for voluntary redundancy. Staff at the institution are being balloted over strike action. Elsewhere staff at the University of Dundee have backed industrial action after the employer said there could be up to 700 redundancies as it struggles to deal with a £35 million deficit. The Scottish Government has been asked for comment about the letter.
Glasgow Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Students and trade unions call for action on education ‘crisis'
They warned that the country's higher and further education sectors 'teeter on the edge of collapse' and called for immediate structural change. The letter to Scotland's minister for higher and further education Graeme Dey MSP has been written by NUS Scotland president Sai Shraddha S Viswanathan and is signed by representatives from the STUC, Unite the Union, EIS, UCU and Unison. They say that the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill, which was published at Holyrood in February, is a critical opportunity to reshape the future of post-16 education in Scotland and demand to be at the heart of shaping it. It comes as some Scottish universities are coming under financial pressure from rising costs and reduced income from international students. The letter says that the country's institutions have been forced to rely on 'precarious international student fees' for too long and calls for a sustainable funding model. Ms Viswanathan said: 'The Scottish Government must use the opportunities ahead to address the serious crises being faced by both universities and colleges across Scotland, which are a result of systemic underfunding. 'The livelihoods of dedicated educators, researchers, and support workers are being put at risk and students are paying the price, with learning conditions deteriorating and support services being slashed. 'This is not just about numbers on a balance sheet – it is about people's futures, their jobs, their education, and their lives. 'It is about Scotland's ability to be a world leader in education. 'It is about whether we believe in an accessible, high-quality, well-funded education system or whether we are content to let it collapse in front of us. 'We refuse to let our universities and colleges be decimated by inaction and political neglect. 'Education is the backbone of our society. Without it, we all suffer.' The Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill aims to simplify the funding system for both college and university students and apprentices. The letter comes as the Scottish Government prepares to announce its 2025 Programme for Government next week. Edinburgh University is one of those which has been facing financial difficulties. The institution announced earlier this year that it would have to cut £140 million from its budget to plug a black hole, with job cuts likely. Principal professor Sir Peter Mathieson last month announced that the university's voluntary severance scheme had concluded and around 350 staff had opted for voluntary redundancy. Staff at the institution are being balloted over strike action. Elsewhere staff at the University of Dundee have backed industrial action after the employer said there could be up to 700 redundancies as it struggles to deal with a £35 million deficit. The Scottish Government has been asked for comment about the letter.
