College graduates
The further education institutions
across Edinburgh City Region play a critical role in supplying
skilled labour and boosting productivity and innovation,
particularly in vocational professions. Between 1998/99 and
2003/04, an average of 144,500 students a year graduated from these
colleges with qualifications. These
qualifications included HNCs, HNDs, degrees, Masters, postgraduate
diplomas, SVQ1-4, GCSEs and CSYS. Many of these graduates will
remain in the area to work.
There was a 16% increase in the number of
college leavers between 1998/99 and 2001/02, although numbers have
fallen by a fifth since then to 129,400 in 2003/04. A core strength
of the further education sector is in catering for adult learners
looking to retrain or improve their skills, as well as school
leavers.
