At the end of 2019, I look back and find much to celebrate in the Scottish college sector. I’ve met countless students and staff and seen the great work and innovation our colleges continuously generate. This job really is a privilege.

So thinking about a "Christmas wishlist" for colleges, I found myself a little stumped.

I see what Scottish colleges are already doing really well: offering students the valuable skills to enter the world of work or higher education, and giving businesses and the wider world a steady stream of highly qualified graduates.

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Working together

More than 28,000 people started an apprenticeship in 2018-19, with colleges’ collaboration with industry preparing them through direct contact with employers.

More students are entering university having first gained a qualification at college, and nearly 2,000 full-time first degree entrants came from the most deprived areas in 2017-18 – a testament to colleges and universities working together for the benefit of students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

Thanks to the positive experiences they have at college, more and more people are fulfilling their potential and heading on to positive destinations. Scottish colleges helped propel more than 95 per cent of qualifiers with a known destination into further study, training or employment in 2017-18, and 93 per cent of full-time further education students said they were satisfied with their college experience in 2018-19.

Figures tell only part of the story, with the individual triumphs of learners representing the culmination of their own hard work, facilitated and nurtured during their time at college.

In the summer, we celebrated the success of all learners, as many people across the country received results to SQA exams and other qualifications. The breadth of vocational qualifications achieved by learners was staggering and would not be possible were it not for the continued efforts of our colleges to build and maintain ties with schools, universities and employers.

There is perhaps no better indicator of the quality of education being provided in Scottish colleges than how we compare globally. As a small nation, we continually punch above our weight on the world stage.

The efforts of five talented and committed students from New College Lanarkshire, Forth Valley College, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow Clyde College flew the flag for Scotland at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019, demonstrating the world-class skills they had developed at their respective colleges, having already dominated the league table during the qualifying rounds at WorldSkills UK.

Breaking down barriers to entry to post-school education is vital to allowing even more people the opportunity to unleash their potential.

We are investing over £5 million this academic year to provide care-experienced students in further and higher education with a bursary of £8,100 - incentivising people with experience of care to enter further or higher education and providing enhanced living cost support to help them see their studies through and reach their goals.

But it is not just entry that counts – while completion rates in further education are broadly trending upwards, studying can be a trying time for many, and more must be done to support them during their studies to thrive and complete their course.

We are providing more than £3.6 million this academic year, part of a four-year commitment to deliver more than 80 additional counsellors in colleges and universities, to improve mental health and wellbeing for further and higher education students.

At this time of year, it is important to take stock, but also to look ahead. The first months of 2020 currently look challenging for all of Scotland as Britain's exit from the European Union looms.

Brexit looming

Brexit has been a central theme on many of my visits to colleges. Our EU students have an overwhelmingly positive attitude to their course, college and our country. Whatever lies ahead, the contribution EU nationals make to our campuses, and the value of EU membership to colleges, will be central to our case to maintain and strengthen ties with Europe.

Throughout 2020, I will continue to work with the sector to ensure our colleges continue to be welcoming, safe spaces for EU citizens and all learners.

If I were to make one Christmas wish, it is that colleges share my resolution to take these values forward as we face up to the challenges ahead, together.

In the meantime, it’s time for me to enjoy time with my family over the festive break. Whatever you are doing, I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Richard Lochhead is Scotland's minister for FE, HE and science.