30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Learn how to fast track your future from college to career
It also shows the importance of the pathways that exist between colleges, universities and employers in Scotland, and there is growing recognition that flexibility and accessibility in education are key to supporting students in achieving their goals.
The publication comes as the Scottish Parliament considers the Tertiary Education and Training Bill, introduced in February 2025. The Bill aims to simplify the landscape across colleges, universities, and training providers, and improve outcomes for learners and employers alike.
One example of how these ambitions are already being realised in practice is through college articulation routes. These pathways allow students to progress from college qualifications - such as HNCs and HNDs - straight into a degree.
At the Open University articulating students are often able to start at third-year level which means that in some cases they will gain a full honours degree in as little as one year.
Sara Haldane from Fife is among those who have benefited. A mum of four, she completed her HND in Social Sciences at Fife College and was able to move directly into the final year of a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Social Sciences with the OU.
(Image: Sara Haldane from Fife)
'I am so proud of myself for having achieved my degree,' says Sara. 'I am a mum of four and for a long time I thought a degree was impossible for me and now I'm studying my postgraduate degree in Psychology, also with the OU.'
Sara had previously studied towards a history degree with the OU, so she was familiar with how the flexible model worked. 'I studied Social Sciences at Fife College and completed my Higher National Certificate and HND.
'They offer a link course with the OU to finish the Bachelor's degree so, in 2023, I decided this was a good fit for me. Studying in my own time but still having the same lecturers as I had at college helped secure this decision.'
She studied at home while caring for her children and navigating a challenging family situation. 'I studied at home and because there is no set timetable for the OU, just a weekly guide, I was able to organise my time to suit my day-to-day responsibilities. I study best in the evenings when my children are in bed and The Open University allows this freedom to study at unusual times.'
Sara credits the OU not just for helping her gain a degree, but for transforming her career: 'The OU has had an impact on my career. I am now a lecturer at Fife College in social studies, which would not have happened without the OU, and I am a much more organised person after studying.'
She adds that supportive lecturers and her children's resilience were crucial to her success. 'My lecturer was a big inspiration. My children inspired me too. Their dad received a liver transplant while I was studying for my HND and they were just incredibly strong during it.'
With the Scottish Government focused on building a more integrated and flexible education system, the Open University's college articulation model stands as a working example of how learners can access life-changing opportunities without compromising on location, income, or family commitments.
