Skills: shared outcomes framework

Shared Outcomes Framework

1. This Shared Outcomes Framework (the framework) is the means by which Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) (“the agencies”) will monitor and report on the collaborative projects listed. These projects contribute to the overarching skills outcomes set out in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) and the missions on the Future Skills Action Plan, notably the intention to align current and future provision more closely to the needs of the economy. The actions outlined in this framework also contribute to delivery of the outcomes in the National Performance Framework.

2. The Framework defines existing collaborative projects that are focused on supporting enhanced provision with economic need. Such enhancement should drive a more agile and responsive system, including a more balanced portfolio of provision where the evidence supports the need for this. This is what is intended through references to skills alignment. The Framework sets out strategic objectives, key milestones, deliverables, impacts and measures to enable more effective monitoring and reporting of joint action in this area and to track the impact of these projects in the wider economy.

3. The Framework enables the cumulative impacts and learning from this suite of projects to be considered by the Shared Outcomes Assurance Group (Governance diagram at Annex A) to ensure that efficiencies are identified; that action is taken to minimise duplication and that lessons learned in one area can be applied in others. The learning and evidence from these projects will also help inform the future work to set the Vision, Purpose and Principles[1] for tertiary education, skills and research in Scotland as recommended in the SFC Review of Coherent Provision and Sustainability.

4. This Framework, focusing specifically on skills planning and alignment, necessarily captures only a part of the broader contribution that both agencies make to supporting the tertiary education and skills system in Scotland (Annex B). The agencies also contribute more broadly to the full range of national outcomes.

5. The Shared Outcomes Assurance Group builds on the earlier work of the Skills Alignment Assurance Group to monitor, constructively challenge and champion the work across the joint agency projects that form part of the Shared Outcomes Framework between SDS and SFC. The Terms of Reference for the Shared Outcomes Assurance Group can be found at Annex C.

6. In recognition of the dynamic skills environment and the need to continuously develop and improve the ways in which we measure progress, this is a live framework that will continue to be developed and adapted as measures and impacts for individual projects are identified. Additional collaborative projects and programmes may be added over time or removed once completed and reflected as “business as usual” activity.

7. The purpose of the framework is to provide;

• Clarity on the areas where both agencies are working collaboratively to achieve greater alignment between economic demand need and skills provision.
• Detail on the impacts and outcomes that individual projects will deliver including clear timescales and milestones.
• The basis from which detailed monitoring, reporting and assurance can be provided from project and through programme level governance up to and including the 6 weekly joint agency Ministerial meeting.

8. The governance underpinning work on these collaborative projects is outlined in Annex B.