Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Moray College in Elgin attracts many students from Banffshire and is one of the educational facilities mentioned in the report for its significant contribution.
Mr Stevenson said:
“Colleges across Scotland have an important part to play in boosting the Scottish economy – training over 235,000 students, employing more than 13,500 staff and contributing over £1.2bn to the economy by 2020.
“The SNP in Government has worked to transform further education, strengthening the sector and ensuring students can access high quality training and skills provision across the country. As a result, more students than ever are ready for work when they leave - with a recent survey of employers finding leavers in Scotland the most prepared for work in the UK.
“On top of this, recent Scottish Government figures have shown successes in the college sector, with even more course completions and record levels of learning hours benefiting students.
“Despite unprecedented cuts being passed down to us from Westminster, college budgets in Scotland have been protected – with the current £522m funding floor higher than every year of the Labour/LibDem administration.
“The SNP Government’s efforts to provide opportunities for young people are making a difference. With the full economic powers only independence will bring, we can go further to strengthen the Scottish economy and ensure even more opportunities for our young people.”
“The SNP in Government has worked to transform further education, strengthening the sector and ensuring students can access high quality training and skills provision across the country. As a result, more students than ever are ready for work when they leave - with a recent survey of employers finding leavers in Scotland the most prepared for work in the UK.
“On top of this, recent Scottish Government figures have shown successes in the college sector, with even more course completions and record levels of learning hours benefiting students.
“Despite unprecedented cuts being passed down to us from Westminster, college budgets in Scotland have been protected – with the current £522m funding floor higher than every year of the Labour/LibDem administration.
“The SNP Government’s efforts to provide opportunities for young people are making a difference. With the full economic powers only independence will bring, we can go further to strengthen the Scottish economy and ensure even more opportunities for our young people.”
The Economic Impact of Scotland’s Colleges report from Colleges Scotland [click to download, 1.2Mb], the body that represents Scotland’s further education sector, found that colleges will contribute £1.2bn to the Scottish economy.
It also found that for every £1 invested in colleges, Scotland’s economy benefits by at least £3.20.
