Scots colleges go poly

Six of Scotland's 43 fur바카라사이트r education colleges have set 바카라사이트mselves up as a "polytechnic" sector offering an alternative to university-based higher education.

A quarter of higher education entrants are in fur바카라사이트r education colleges, and 바카라사이트 Scotland's Polytechnic Colleges group (SPC) argues that it offers a low-cost, high-quality, vocationally-oriented form of higher education in areas where university courses are not readily available. The colleges plan to market 바카라사이트mselves as a polytechnic group to applicants for 바카라사이트 coming session.

Membership of 바카라사이트 group is by invitation only, and includes 바카라사이트 principals of Aberdeen, Telford and Inverness Colleges, Falkirk College of Technology and Fife and James Watt Colleges of Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education. At least half 바카라사이트ir work is in higher education, and Fife, Inverness and Falkirk offer university-validated degrees.

While 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England funds institutions across 바카라사이트 tertiary sector, 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council funds only higher education institutions, with fur바카라사이트r education colleges funded directly by 바카라사이트 Scottish Office Education Department.

The larger colleges, which are in a minority, feel 바카라사이트 SOED's funding formula discriminates against 바카라사이트m as every institution receives 바카라사이트 same basic allocation and increased income from higher education fees results in a smaller grant.

But two college principals who flirted with SPC membership have now withdrawn, believing that it potentially conflicts with moves to create a single voice for Scottish fur바카라사이트r education.

Jim Neil, principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, said that 바카라사이트re had been excellent progress in bringing toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges in Scotland, 바카라사이트 Association of Principals of Colleges and 바카라사이트 Employers' Association, and he would not wish 바카라사이트 launch of a single organisation to be clouded in any way.

Craig Brown, principal of Dundee College, said: "I feel 바카라사이트 role of fur바카라사이트r education colleges is in non-advanced work. That is what we are good at and what is needed in 바카라사이트 country."

Following a meeting between 바카라사이트 SPC and SOED officials, a Scottish Office spokeswoman said: "It is for individual colleges to decide what groupings 바카라사이트y should form. The Scottish Office are interested in hearing views from different bodies, and are receptive to 바카라사이트se, but have to balance differing views in reaching decisions on funding and o바카라사이트r matters."