Campuses get money for improvements

Dec 27 2012

Colleges will get an additional £5 million to help improve their campuses next year, the Education Secretary has announced.

The cash would "directly benefit Scottish students, with improvements planned at a number of college estates", said Mike Russell.

It comes after the Scottish Government pledged a "building boom" with extra money available through the Chancellor's autumn budget statement. The SNP administration plans £205 million of construction and maintenance work with the funding.

The Scottish Government hopes the £5 million for colleges will help students enjoy a better learning environment with buildings that meet their needs.

The money is part of £19 million for further and higher education over the next two years, with £300 million also planned through the Scottish Government's non-profit distributing funding.

Mr Russell said: "Creating the very best educational environment supports the highest quality learning and teaching and will make a difference that will pay dividends for many years to come.

"These funds, part of the wider £19 million funding for further and higher education in 2013-14 and 2014-15, along with our planned £300 million investment in college estates through the innovative non-profit distributing model, will help to ensure that we address the pressing maintenance needs of the college estate and ensure that it is fit for the 21st century."