Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill - Fairer Scotland Duty (FSD) Summary

Summary of aims and expected outcomes of strategy, proposal, programme or policy

The Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill is an essential component of reforming the post-school education and skills public body landscape. The purpose of the Bill is to make provision for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to take full responsibility for the delivery of National Training Programmes (NTPs), apprenticeships and work-based learning. The Bill will also make consequential changes and other improvements to the SFC’s functions and governance arrangements.

The provisions within the Bill aim to simplify the post-school education funding landscape by conferring new responsibilities for the funding and administration of NTPs, apprenticeships and work-based learning by the SFC, which already secures the provision of further and higher education through funding. This will facilitate different, more transparent ways of funding apprenticeships and other work-based learning and training, so that the system is easier for learners to navigate. This will also help to ensure people have access to the skills and training that employers need.

This Bill is an essential enabling step in reforming the post-school education and skills public body landscape. By bringing responsibility for securing and funding all forms of post-school education and skills provision together at the SFC, the Bill aims to:

• deliver better services for learners and employers;
• simplify the operating environment for colleges, universities and training providers; and
• ensure best value from our public funds.

This assessment only assessed the impact of the provisions included within the Bill and not the policy evolution and development which it enables.

The Bill is expected to enable significant positive changes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of NTPs, apprenticeships and work-based learning. The Bill, of itself, does not have an impact on those who engage with and form part of the post-school education and skills system such as learners, employers, institutions, and other training providers. It will be how the functions are exercised (which will be the subject of future impact assessments) which will be significant.

The Bill provisions offer potential opportunities to address inequalities and impact people throughout Scotland through their participation in the post-school education and skills system as part of their lifelong learning journey.