Colleges need to establish a “symbiotic” relationship with businesses, two of Scotland’s leading principals have said.

Speaking to Tes at the launch of their landmark report One tertiary system - agile, collaborative, inclusive, Audrey Cumberford, from Edinburgh College, and Paul Little, from City of Glasgow College, said for Scotland’s colleges to reach their potential in supporting the economy, it was not enough for them to simply offer training.

The report, which stresses the significant contribution that colleges make to the economy already, recommends that Scottish government ministers should make supporting business growth “a top priority for colleges”. They also say there is a need to develop mechanisms that incentivise “effective and purposeful college/employer engagement”.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) should work with the Scottish Funding Council, the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and the sector to review its post-16 portfolio against the tests of the new college purpose, the principals say.

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Ms Cumberford said: “We are used to terms such an ‘engaging with businesses’ and ‘collaborating with businesses’, but we should be talking about having a symbiotic relationship with businesses. An important point is that it is not just about colleges working with businesses, they then have to shape the training we do. It is a loop, not just a two-way relationship.” 

College partnerships with businesses 

The report also calls for a “rebalancing” of established college and university funding - something that the two principals said did not mean colleges should benefit at the expense of the HE sector. Yet, that suggestion was not met with unequivocal support from HE representatives attending the launch.

Mr Little said: “We say in the report we want it to be about being inclusive. We wanted to start the debate and point out the key challenges, but because we think there should be one system, all parts of the system should be coming up with those solutions. We might have ideas about that but for us to be coming up with that solution would be wrong - that would be thinking in silos again.”

Ms Cumberford added: “We are saying there is a lot of money in the system, and we recognise that. What we are voicing is that we need to make sure that going forward, the balance needs to be addressed.”

The two principals also propose an accelerated two-year degree, stressing this is something students are asking for and that could suit some business sectors well: “It would be a two-year HND plus six months of placement,” said Mr Little. “But that needs to be what businesses want. It is not for everyone.”

It was important for this to be called a “degree” he stressed: “Until the public understands the value of [other college qualifications], we have to use inclusive language. We call it a college degree.”

“It is accelerated, and that is really key, because we know that is what our students are demanding,” said Ms Cumberford.

Putting the spotlight on colleges

For a government-commissioned report like this to be written by two principals was “unprecedented”, they acknowledged. “We are aware that it is unprecedented for two principals to do this. It feels like government recognises this is a moment in time where there is a real sense on an opportunity to put a spotlight on the college sector,” said Ms Cumberford. “It was good to work in partnership. That also gives it more weight.”

Mr Little added: “It felt great. It felt like we were behind a spotlight and were turning the light on the sector. It was great to take that responsibility and we took it very seriously.”

The report will not be left to gather dust on ministers’ shelves, the two principals insist. “We have already asked for an urgent meeting,” said Mr Little.

Ms Cumberford added that fellow principals had also already voiced their support for the report and their intention for it to be followed up by the government.

Key recommendations of the Cumberford Little Report

• Ministers should endorse the “compelling narrative” setting out the purpose of a 21st-century college in the report and promote it consistently across government, irrespective of portfolio, to develop a clear understanding across civic Scotland of what a college is for.
• Develop a transparent and accessible performance regime directly related to the purpose.
• “In the context of that work, we are clear the existing target for colleges, focusing on volume, should be replaced by a target that focuses clearly on the impact we want colleges to make.”
• The current imbalance between the SFC’s college and university strategic funds should be revised.
• The historical balance between the SFC’s university and college “core” funding streams should be revisited.
• Ministers make supporting business growth a top priority for colleges.
• To develop mechanisms that incentivise effective and purposeful college/employer engagement.
• Ask the SQA to work with SFC, the SCQF and the sector to review its post-16 portfolio against the tests of the new college purpose.
• SQA should also consider, with colleges and SCQF, how it might secure the freedom to design and develop its own qualifications.
• The development of a two-year college degree, based on the Higher National Diploma, with additional work-placement content.
• The SFC should work with the college sector to reform its current funding model. The new model should be transparent, and readily understood, and introduced as quickly as possible, no later than academic year 2021-22.
• Working with colleges and universities, establish a means of learner-focused articulation from college to university.
• Protect the essential diversity of the sector.