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- The Herald Scotland
Colleges say two years is too long to wait for reform
Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the aim was to review Scotland's skills delivery system, including the structure and funding model for the further and higher education sectors.
Mr Withers' report made several key recommendations, many of which addressed what he called the "fragmentation" in the system, which led to challenges in funding and implementing programmes such as apprenticeships that are important to Scotland's economic development.
Among the report's major findings were recommendations to create a single funding body for all post-school training and learning, streamline learning pathways for skills and qualifications and create "parity of esteem" between qualifications.
Two years after the report, Andy Witty, Director of Strategic Policy and Corporate Governance for Colleges Scotland, has said that there is "unfinished business" on reforming the college sector.
Writing in The Herald, Mr Witty said the Withers Report was a "breathe of fresh air" when it was published, but there have been too many delays implementing its key findings.
"Colleges supported this milestone report at time of its publication two years ago, and its message to government and stakeholders today is still the same and can be summed up in two words: Deliver Withers.
"There was a very clear warning in the Withers Review – do not cherry pick, implement all of the recommendations – but we are now in a position, two years on, that some parts are slowly moving forward and some parts are not."
While Mr Witty said that there is hope for the proposed Tertiary Education and Training Bill to address the "complex, fragmented and confusing" funding system currently divided between the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Skills Development Scotland (SDS), and the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), other recommendations "remain on the proverbial shelf."
He said that creating a national, lifelong digital training record would allow learners, graduates and workers to better track and showcase their skills and qualifications.
Mr Witty added that it is critical to end the "false dichotomy" between vocational and academic pathways and create "parity of esteem."
"James Withers argues that all educational routes—whether academic, vocational, or work-based—should be valued equally, recognising that learners are diverse.
"We support this fully."
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However, Mr Witty said that colleges face an uphill battle against increased funding challenges and an "unsustainable" status quo.
"While the vision for a streamlined, learner-centric post-school education system has been articulated, the journey from recommendations to realisation remains incomplete–there is an urgent need for action to transform Scotland's skills landscape. Colleges are very willing to play their part in that."
Economic advisor James Withers was the author of an independent review of Scotland's skills system. (Image: James Withers)
In March, Mr Withers appeared at Holyrood's Economy and Fair Work Committee and was asked about his review. As evidence to the committee, Mr Withers reiterated his findings and highlighted what he saw as a problematic view of colleges as a secondary pathway.
"I worry that we have a burning platform in our college system. Before I started the review, I had not been in a college for 20 years, and I had a very outdated view of what colleges were doing.
"I finished the review believing that they are an absolute jewel in the crown. They are rooted in the community and connected to businesses, schools and university institutions.
"If we get that bit right, that could be game-changing, but from what I have seen in the college sector, I worry about its future.
"There needs to be a good look at the college system. I worry that there might be a messy reorganisation based on who falls down first financially, rather than anything else.
"There is potential for colleges to be rooted in regional skills planning and regional economic partnerships.
"The close working between the college and university system is valuable, but we cannot see the college system as just another feeder into university, so that we can say that we have more kids than ever going to university. That should not be the measure of success."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
'Ministers accepted the premise of the key provisions set out in the independent review of skills delivery by James Withers. The Post-School Education and Skills Reform Programme was developed following this and considerable work is now underway across government to implement this change.
'We are clear about the importance and status of vocational pathways and are providing £185 million this year to deliver funding for 25,000 new modern apprentices, 5,000 Foundation Apprentices, 1,200 Graduate Apprentices and continue to support over 38,000 apprentices in training.'
