Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Digital Learning Project

Update on the Project.

Minutes:

5.1    Ms Angela Cox, Principal of Borders College, gave a presentation on the South of Scotland Skills and Learning Network, a joint project with Borders and Dumfries & Galloway Colleges, to create a digital and physical skills and learning network, using a digital and physical hub and spoke model.  This would provide everyone across the South of Scotland an equitable opportunity to access skills and development opportunities, drawing from the best practice and research globally.  Funding for the 2-year project came from the South of Scotland Enterprise Partnership, with the project designed to act as a catalyst to transform how skills opportunities were developed and delivered across the South of Scotland.  The project included the creation of up to 20 Digitally Connected Hub & Spokes across the South of Scotland in schools, community settings and businesses; development of physical Care Career Academy Hubs in Galashiels and Dumfries; the development of a regional STEM/Innovation Hub in Hawick with a focus of construction and renewable energy; and the development of increased opportunities to access higher level skills and degrees locally.  Success measures included delivering the structural implementation within the timescale; increasing the number of employers upskilling employees through the hub structure; increasing the number of students studying and achieving qualifications in STEM related courses in colleges; increasing the number of school students accessing a wider curriculum via the Hub and Spokes; and increasing the volume and proportion of credits delivered at HE level.

 

5.2    With regard to progress, the digital spokes had been implemented in Earlston and Eyemouth, with plans progressing in Kelso, Peebles and Kelso High Schools in time for the August term.  The STEM hub in Hawick and the Care Academy in Galashiels were both progressing on time. For 2019/20 a number of new offers would be available for Foundation Apprenticeships, National Certificates, Professional Development Awards, Graduate Apprenticeships, HNCs, and HNDs.  Discussions were ongoing with Edinburgh based Universities regarding the South of Scotland network hosting post graduate online programmes and developing in partnership a number of short ‘masterclasses’ for local employees and businesses to access.  There were a number of challenges and implications in taking forward the project including managing expectations, capacity, and the cultural change required within colleges and with partners.  Ms Cox explained that there was an ongoing dialogue between schools, colleges and Skills Development Scotland to try to capture data with a number of transition programmes available which were usually more focussed on employability and not necessarily on specific skills. 

 

5.3    Ms Cox answered a number of questions from members.  In terms of a balance between existing core structures and the Hub & Spoke model delivering new courses, the target for the college was for a minimum 30% being delivered online.  In Peebles, child care would move from the college out to Peebles High School with a combination of lessons and online teaching.  Higher Psychology was being taught in Earlston and Eyemouth with the teacher based in Earlston with one group of students and the lesson screened to Eyemouth to another group.  Students would still be encouraged to transfer to college from school but data had shown that the further away the student lived from college the greater the likelihood they would drop out, so the Hub & Spoke model was about providing enhanced opportunity and choice.  By June 2019, the Hub & Spoke model would be operating in Peebles, Kelso, Eyemouth and Selkirk.  Registered Social Landlords would also be welcomed into the project.  The timing of careers advice and guidance was also being discussed.  Stuart Easingwood advised that there was a very clear view that the Borders needed to be more ambitious and productive on the range of options available for pupils across the region.  Utilising the technology was the way forward, and looking from a multi-agency point, changes for the future needed to be looked at and not simply what was happening on the ground at the moment.  Ultimately, young people should not feel the need to leave the Borders as there should be enough opportunities for them here.  Rob Dickson confirmed that the dynamic was changing and there was an opportunity at the moment to change how organisations worked to ensure that challenges were met.  With the new Agency coming in, recognising that the economy and needs here were different, the area would have a higher profile, greater funding would be available, and opportunities would need to be grasped to continually link stakeholders to get inclusive growth, higher skills level of those of working age, etc. 

 

DECISION

AGREED to note the presentation which would be issued to members of the Strategic Board.     

Supporting documents:

 

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