Business Minister supports geospatial training at Fife College

Business Minister Richard Lochhead MSP visited Fife College on 29th May to learn how the College has delivered the UK’s first geospatial qualification in a College.

The new Geospatial Foundation Skills course, which began in February 2025, provides an 18-week introduction to GIS and Earth Observation, emphasising core skills and with each student undertaking a practical project with industry. The course came into being as a collaboration between the College, the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) in Scotland, Location Data Scotland (LDS) and the University of Edinburgh with support from the Scottish Government’s Geographic Information Science and Analysis Team. Research undertaken by Location Data Scotland and AGI Scotland identified a skills shortage, particularly in relation to technician-level roles and this course was developed as a response, ensuring Scotland continues to be a prime destination for geospatial business.

The Minister was welcomed to the College’s new Dunfermline City Campus which will open later in the year; the future home of innovative programmes such as the Geospatial Foundation Programme.  The course will be credit rated this month as a recognised qualification on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework at SCQF level 6.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“This project is a prime example of the growing innovation at the heart of our college sector. It will help ensure that we have the skills and talent to match the rapidly expanding and evolving digital and green economies.

“The Scottish Government stands square behind our innovative, high-growth industries which play an increasingly important role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and playing to Scotland’s strengths on a world stage.”

Bruce Gittings, Chair of AGI Scotland and Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said:

“This is a remarkable collaboration which will bring new talent into the geospatial workforce in Scotland, supporting existing organisations, allowing new businesses to develop and promoting inward investment.

“The Scottish Government created Location Data Scotland to grow our geospatial sector, and this has been part of a significant work-package that will underpin future success.

“This course in entirely complementary to what is offered at university-level and therefore brings greater diversity into our industry and the opportunity for progression. We have seen that it can attract school-leavers to this new course, as well as those with interesting backgrounds and experiences coming back into employment or seeking a career-change.

“We are already exploring how AGI and LDS can develop their collaboration with Fife in the future.”

Jim Metcalfe, Principal of Fife College, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Business Minister to our new Dunfermline City Campus and share the exciting work underway across a range of future-focused subject areas.

“Our programmes in fields such as geospatial technology are designed to meet the skills needs of Scotland’s economy – both now and in the future.

“At Fife College, we are committed to being an accelerator for jobs and opportunity, aligning skills with economic demand, and this new campus is at the heart of that mission.”

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