South Lanarkshire College was delighted to welcome Alyn Smith MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, as part of Challenge Poverty Week, marking his first dedicated college visit since taking up his ministerial post.

The visit highlighted the important role colleges, particularly South Lanarkshire College, play in supporting students, communities, and employers across Scotland. It also showcased how colleges help tackle inequality and create opportunities for people to improve their lives.

During the visit, the Minister met with students and staff and learned more about the College's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision and the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) Access to Nursing course. Students shared their experiences of the financial challenges they have faced and spoke about the support available through the College, which helps remove barriers to learning and enables them to continue and progress in their studies.

Stella McManus, South Lanarkshire College Principal and CEO said: 

"It was great to welcome the Minister to the College and to explore the life-changing opportunities that further education creates for students across our communities. Colleges play a pivotal role in supporting social mobility, reducing inequality, and ensuring individuals have access to the education, skills and support required to progress into sustainable employment and further study.

“We were also pleased to highlight initiatives such as RISE (Raising Income through Skills and Education) and discuss how it will help parents and carers on low incomes access education, skills, and employment opportunities in the future. 

“I would like to thank everyone who made the visit such a success. We look forward to continuing the conversation and welcoming the Minister back to South Lanarkshire College in the future.”

Alyn Smith MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education said: 

"It was a pleasure to visit South Lanarkshire College and to see first-hand the difference it makes to students and the wider community. Hearing directly from students about the financial challenges they've faced, and the support that has helped them stay in education and progress in their studies, has highlighted how vital our colleges are in tackling poverty and inequality.

"Colleges like South Lanarkshire are at the heart of our efforts to widen access and improve social mobility, whether that's through ESOL provision, the Scottish Wider Access Programme, or initiatives like RISE that will support families at greatest risk of poverty to access the skills and education they need to enter, sustain and progress in work. 

"I'd like to thank everyone at South Lanarkshire College for such a warm welcome, and for everything they do to support their students and community."