The Finance Secretary has announced extra cash for colleges and housing as Holyrood prepared to pass the Scottish Government's Budget.
John Swinney also revealed there would be further cash for transport and to help provide world-class broadband services across the country.
He told MSPs at Holyrood that in preparing its spending plans for 2012-13 the SNP had "acted decisively in the interest of our economy, our public services and the people of Scotland".
In the run-up to the final debate on the Budget, opposition politicians and others had urged the Finance Secretary to find extra money for areas such as colleges and housing.
Mr Swinney pledged an extra £11.4 million for student support, together with a further £8 million to the Scottish Funding Council to go to colleges in the coming year.
He said that, combined with £20 million of new investment already announced for colleges, showed the Government's commitment to the sector.
Mr Swinney said: "That is £40 million of addition investment which should leave no one in a shadow of doubt about the strength of this administration's commitment to our colleges and to Scotland's students."
The Finance Secretary also revealed housing would get an extra £97 million over four years.
He said: "Most of this will go directly into our programme for subsidising new supply, increasing the number of homes we can deliver and ensuring that we can meet needs right across the country."
