Informed Scotland Learning & Skills Hottest Topics 2024

Which learning & skills topics appeared on the most covers of Informed Scotland over the past year? Here’s the 12th annual list.

1. Artificial intelligence (AI) (=5 in 2023)

2. University & college financial sustainability (NEW)

=3. Energy transition & green skills (=1)

=3. HE applicants, students & international students (–)

=3. School curriculum improvement (NEW)

=3. School education & qualifications reform (=5)

=7. Colleges – funding, staff & business innovation (=3)

=7. Widening & fair access (–)

Artificial intelligence (AI) sits alone at the top, with AI or generative AI featuring on seven of the year’s ten covers. Its rise and spread across learning & skills has been rapid and unstoppable; it first made it onto a cover in 2019 and into the annual list in 2021.

In 2024, organisations and professionals have wrestled with: AI’s positive and negative impacts on learning and assessment; its role within education and recruitment; and how and when to use and teach it. They’ve been: developing competency frameworks, tools and guides; mapping those who are creating AI products and services; surveying perceptions and levels of awareness; and considering whether ethical literacy should be a priority.

In second place and new to the list is University & college financial sustainability, having appeared on half of all covers in 2024. Although the debate about how to turn things around has gathered greater urgency, the funding challenges faced by institutions look likely to spread in 2025.

Four share third place, each appearing on four covers:

• Energy transition & green skills is down from joint top in 2023. Its inclusion since 2022 reflects the continuing focus on – and shortage of – skills at all levels and across sectors.
• This is the third and highest appearance for HE applicants, students & international students, with ‘hot’ issues in 2024 including the impact of the falling number of international students on university income and cultural exchange.
• School curriculum improvement is the second of two new entries. Expect to see it feature again in 2025 with Education Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle up and running.
• Third time in the top three for School education & qualifications reform, having been equal top in 2022. 2025 should see it back again, with the Education (Scotland) Bill, currently at Stage 2, and the launch of new and renewed schools sector bodies, such as Qualifications Scotland, the Centre for Teaching Excellence and a separate HM Inspectorate of Education.

In joint seventh place are Colleges, a new entry last year, and Widening & fair access, back from a two-year absence after previously making every annual list.

Just missing out this year were ‘Digital skills’ – in the top three in ten annual lists – and ‘Behaviour & attendance in schools’.

Remarkably, ‘Recognition of prior learning’ and ‘Youth work’ were among seven topics that appeared on a cover for the first time. Others included ‘Care experience & education’, and the specialised skills of ‘Planning’ and ‘Shipbuilding’.

What other topics are expected to be ‘hot’ this year? Well, those in the 2024 list are all likely candidates, particularly AI, financial sustainability and green skills. The ‘Post-school education & skills reform’ is also likely to move back onto the agenda.

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