Ishan Crawford

A major milestone has been reached by Scotland’s pioneering online learning platform, SCHOLAR, which marks its 25th anniversary in 2025. With over a million learners registered, the platform continues to shape the future of education, evolving to meet the needs of both students and educators across the country. From Humble Beginnings to a National Educational Resource When SCHOLAR was first introduced, it was a small, STEM-focused initiative aimed at providing online learning resources to schools and colleges in Scotland. Fast forward to today, and SCHOLAR has become one of the most successful and widely used platforms in the country. Developed…

Scotland is gearing up for a significant reshuffle of its post-compulsory education funding framework, aiming for implementation by autumn 2026. The changes, announced after extensive consultations, address longstanding criticisms of fragmentation and inefficiency in the skills funding system, as highlighted by James Withers in his comprehensive review. Streamlining the Funding Structure Under the proposed reforms: Scottish Funding Council (SFC): Will assume responsibility for all post-school funding, including apprenticeships and training currently managed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS). Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS): Will take over student support for further education, relieving the SFC of this responsibility. SDS will continue to…

Friends of the Earth Scotland has raised serious concerns over mining companies’ lack of communication with local communities regarding transition mineral mining exploration. Research across Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and the Highlands reveals that residents have often been unaware of mining plans until exploration activities were already underway. This lack of transparency has led to widespread frustration, with communities feeling “kept in the dark” by both the companies involved and their political representatives. Mining for Transition Minerals: What’s at Stake? Transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel are essential for the production of renewable technologies like electric vehicles and…

The CBI Scotland Business Lunch 2025 invites members and guests to an exclusive event, designed to foster high-level networking among Scotland's senior business leaders. This prestigious gathering presents a valuable opportunity to connect, share insights, and discuss the challenges facing businesses in the region. Why Attend the CBI Scotland Business Lunch? Meet and Engage with Senior Business Leaders The event brings together influential decision-makers and industry experts from across Scotland. It provides a unique opportunity to meet and engage with top business figures, allowing attendees to build and extend professional networks. Hear from a Guest Keynote Speaker Guests will have…

Scots from all corners of the country are gearing up to celebrate Burns Night, an annual tradition that honors Scotland's National Poet, Robert Burns. On January 25th, people will gather for Burns Suppers, where they’ll recite poetry, enjoy haggis, and toast to the poet’s legacy. Do you think you know everything there is to know about Robert Burns and the history behind this celebrated event? Test your knowledge with our Burns Night quiz! When is Burns Night 2025? Burns Night falls on January 25 every year, marking the birth of Robert Burns in 1759. This tradition has been carried on…

The Scottish Government is taking significant steps toward facilitating more accessible and ethical use of public sector data, as it launches a new initiative aimed at creating a framework for the use of de-identified personal data for research and innovation. This move, part of Scotland’s broader Unlocking the Value of Data (UVOD) programme, reflects a growing push to harness data in ways that benefit both the public and private sectors. Government's Commitment to Data Accessibility The Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate has introduced a plan to develop an operational framework that will guide how public sector data is accessed. This framework…

A serious accident involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and a car occurred on the A90 in Aberdeenshire on Friday afternoon, leaving one person hospitalized. The incident took place near the Cruden Bay area, with emergency services quickly dispatched to the scene. Emergency Response and Road Closure The crash, which happened around 13:00, prompted a significant response from emergency services. The Scottish Ambulance Service confirmed that multiple resources, including two ambulances, three special operations response teams (SORT), a trauma team, and an air ambulance, were sent to the location. The patient was transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment. Police…

The reintroduction of lynx to Scotland has taken a controversial turn. Illegal releases of these wildcats in the Cairngorm Mountains are sparking debates about conservation efforts, bringing attention to the complex dynamics surrounding the rewilding movement. A Bold Move to Bring Back the Lynx For over five centuries, lynx have been absent from Britain’s wildlife landscape. However, recent events have thrown the topic into the spotlight. Four lynx were released into the Cairngorms, marking the latest attempt to restore species that had long since disappeared from the British Isles. These reintroductions are often seen as part of a broader rewilding…

The tragic suicides of Katie Allan, 20, and William Lindsay, 16, at Polmont Young Offender Institution have been declared preventable in a long-awaited joint inquiry report. The findings, released on January 17, 2025, criticized the system's failures and called for significant changes in how such cases are handled, urging the UK government to end prisons' immunity from prosecution. A Catalogue of Failures The 419-page report, compiled by Sheriff Simon Collins KC, outlines a series of systemic failures that allowed both young people to die in custody, despite staff being aware of their vulnerabilities. The inquiry found that Katie Allan and…

The search for missing twin sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti has entered its second week, with police and family desperately seeking information on their whereabouts. The sisters, both 32 and part of a set of triplets, were last seen in Aberdeen on January 7, 2025, and their sudden disappearance has raised questions and concerns, particularly from their brother. Disappearance Details and Family’s Desperate Plea Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, originally from Hungary, were last spotted on CCTV at approximately 2:12 am on January 7th on Market Street near the Victoria Bridge, which spans the River Dee. The footage shows the sisters…