Welsh further education colleges

* Welsh further education colleges must reassess their strategies in the light of European Commission priorities in order to attract funds, the chief executive of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales has urged, writes Olga Wojtas.

John Andrews told Fforwm, which represents the principals and chairs of further education college governing bodies, that European structural funds for capital projects and training, which emphasised economic development and job creation, had been invaluable to many Welsh colleges, but competition was fierce.

"It is most important for institutions to take account of European policy orientations and priorities in the context of developing their institutional plans to underpin their funding applications," he said.