16.0 General
16.1 What are the long term prospects for ILA Scotland with regards to sustainability?
A crucial factor in developing ILA Scotland has been to try and ensure that the systems, processes and procedures are as robust as possible, to ensure that the scheme is operationally sustainable and not subject to misuse. In policy terms, ILA accounts are seen as an important and innovative element to support lifelong learning. Once established, learners’ ILA Scotland accounts have no specified expiry date. A learner's funding entitlement is renewed on an annual basis but access to funding will be subject to overall budget availability and, over time, funding may be rationed depending on demand. The longer-term prospects for ILA Scotland will depend on how successful the scheme is in meeting its objectives of bringing new learners into learning and achieving added value.
16.2 Will you be checking participation rates?
Yes. Learner tracking, compliance monitoring and large-scale learner surveys will all contribute to monitoring learner participation, course completion and, over time, learner progression.
16.3 If a learning provider has created demand for a specific course through promoting ILA Scotland, how can they tell if the learner has gone elsewhere?
If general interest in ILA Scotland has been created by you but the learner feels that they are better served going to another provider then they are free to do so. Equally, if interest is generated by another provider, the learner is free to learn with you.
Once the learner has booked a course with you and that has been registered on the ILA Scotland website, the learner will receive their Learning Token. That Token can then only be used with you.
16.4 If a learning provider is suspended, can the learner continue with another learning provider?
This will depend on the circumstances of the individual case but, the general principle will be that learners should not be disadvantaged and should be kept fully informed where such a situation arises. Should a learner wish to undertake learning elsewhere, we will assist in accommodating such a situation where appropriate.
16.5 Are learning providers expected to advise on whether fee waiver or ILA Scotland is most appropriate?
It is expected that you will be able to advise learners whether the use of ILA Scotland funding is most beneficial to the learner or if fee waiver or other funding options would be more appropriate. Advice will also be available for learners on the helpline and guidance will be given to intermediaries in order that they may provide impartial advice regarding available funding options. Learners should not be encouraged to use ILA Scotland funding if there are other more appropriate sources of funding available to them.
16.6 Is it possible to offer a discount to ILA Scotland learners or for learning providers to contribute to the cost of the course?
There may be instances where you offer discounts on the advertised price of a course to certain types of learner, such as pensioners or the unemployed, perhaps as part of the organisation’s own wider access / flexible provision policy. Such discounts are permitted, provided that details are published in advance and are available to everyone that meets the qualifying criteria.
In such cases the course(s) concerned must feature in the ILA Scotland database as two (or more) separate learning opportunities, each individually priced to show the actual price payable after any discount has been applied. (N.B. It is not permitted to record any discount offered to a learner as a third party contribution to the full price of the course).
You may not contribute to the cost of the course in any other way. There is one exception to this – you may contribute to the cost of courses undertaken by your employees. These should be recorded on the ILA Scotland website as a third party / employer contribution.
16.7 Is match funding, such as ESF, allowed?
This will depend on the circumstances – in all cases it would be subject to both the course and the individual learner fully satisfying ILA Scotland eligibility criteria. But in principle, ILA Scotland funding may be used as ‘matched’ public funding for ESF courses.
16.8 Can third parties provide additional funding for courses?
Yes, third parties, e.g. employers, can contribute to the cost of the course.
16.9 If there are financial barriers, other than the cost of the course, for example childcare and travel expenses. Will ILA Scotland cover these costs?
ILA Scotland will cover or contribute to course tuition costs only. This may include exam fees or other specified course-related costs, but would not meet travel or childcare expenses. There are other funding sources, e.g. in colleges and universities, which are available to cover these additional costs. It is appreciated, though, that such additional costs can be a real barrier, especially for non-traditional learners. We will seek feedback from ILA Scotland-funded learners on the impact of such other factors as part of a wider ILA Scotland scheme evaluation.
16.10 Is there a ceiling on investment in any one learner?
Once established, learners' ILA Scotland accounts have no specified expiry date; learners' funding entitlement is renewed on an annual basis. But access to funding will be subject to overall budget availability and, over time, funding may be rationed depending on demand.
16.11 You mentioned that employers could contribute to the cost of the course. I thought employers couldn’t play a part?
The key point is that it is for the individual to choose what learning they wish to do. Employers must not try to influence this choice or pressure employees to use their ILA Scotland funds to pay for courses which are normally undertaken in the course of their work. However, some employers recognise the wider benefits learning can bring to their workforce regardless of what that learning might be and are willing to contribute to the cost. In such cases, an employer’s contribution is perfectly acceptable.
16.12 If a learner doesn’t use all their funds within the learner year will they lose them?
Yes – but further funds will be available in the next learner year. ILA Scotland will also contact learners to encourage them to use their funds throughout the year.