Created on: 06 Nov 2025
The Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) envisions a Further Education (FE) sector which is fully publicly funded, democratically governed, and deeply embedded within local communities.
Colleges, EIS-FELA stresses, are not just institutions for skills training or career advancement — they are the social, cultural, and educational heart of their communities.
FE colleges should provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds to grow, learn, and participate meaningfully in society. They must help build economic resilience, promote social mobility, and support lifelong learning. This means delivering high-quality, inclusive education which equips individuals with skills for work and life while nurturing critical thinking, civic engagement, and personal development.
To achieve this, colleges must be safe, stable, and supportive places — with smaller class sizes, well-resourced lecturers, and curricula that reflect Scotland’s diverse population. Governance should be transparent and accountable, ensuring that leadership serves students, staff, and communities rather than private interests. EIS-FELA argues that a well-funded, community-anchored college sector is essential for fairness in education, fairness in work, and fairness in society.
