Morris to cut bureaucracy
Education secretary Estelle Morris is to cut red tape and improve professional development for college staff. Speaking at the Association of Colleges annual conference in Birmingham today, Ms Morris announced a reduction in the number of different funding streams for further education and the establishment of a national leadership college for college principals and lecturers.
Workload damaging nurseing teaching
A mounting workload is heaping pressure on nurse lecturers and damaging nurse training, the Royal College of Nursing warns today. Many lecturers feel unable to provide a first-class educational experience for students, a new report from the college revealed.
Scots law chief on anti-racism quest
Scotland’s solicitor general,Neil Davidson QC, is addressing students at Heriot-Watt University today in a drive to encourage more people from ethnic minorities to enter the legal profession. The visit follows accusations of institutional racism in the police and Crown Office.
Roberton appointed SFEFC chair
Esther Roberton has been appointed chair of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council for the next four years. Ms Roberton has been interim chair since Robert Beattie's resignation in May on health grounds.
Birth-defect gene suspect identified
A single abnormal gene identified by scientists today may be the root cause of birth defects such as spina bifida. The discovery by a team of scientists headed by Philip Stanier at Imperial College and Andrew Copp at University College London could lead to new treatments.