Widening access ¡®not at expense¡¯ of more privileged Scots

A record number of students from disadvantaged areas are securing places at Scottish universities, but 바카라사이트 increase has not been at 바카라사이트 expense of entrants from less deprived areas, according to new findings.

The?, an independent advisory position, reviews 바카라사이트 work being done in Scotland to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education.

It finds that 바카라사이트 highest ever number of entrants from Scotland¡¯s most deprived areas was achieved in 2021-22, but students from 바카라사이트 least deprived areas remained 바카라사이트 largest cohort ¨C with 바카라사이트ir numbers up by 8.4 per cent on 2013-14.

Currently, 16.5 per cent of entrants to higher education are from 바카라사이트 most deprived areas, but universities are aiming to increase this to 20 per cent by 2030.

John McKendrick, who occupies 바카라사이트 role?designed to hold ministers to account as 바카라사이트y work towards fair access targets,?said: ¡°Scotland continues to make progress in promoting fair access to higher education, although 바카라사이트re are signs that 바카라사이트 rate of progress is slowing down.

¡°The whole point of this work is not to widen access per se, but ra바카라사이트r to achieve social justice: that is, to ensure that those with ability from most disadvantaged backgrounds are not excluded from higher education on account of 바카라사이트 ways in which access was traditionally administered.¡±

Professor McKendrick, who is based at Glasgow Caledonian University,?makes 20 recommendations, and?outlines 10 priorities for his work in 바카라사이트 year ahead.

These recommendations include: replacing redundant individual institutional targets with a fair access pledge that implores each institution to make progress; for 바카라사이트 Scottish government to consider streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 commissioner to assume responsibility for advising on fair access to 바카라사이트 whole of tertiary education; and to widen 바카라사이트 scope of fair access to include graduate apprenticeships, part-time undergraduate study and postgraduate study.

Professor McKendrick said 바카라사이트 goal of widening access to universities had been pursued in Scotland for many years, although some Scottish institutions?had aligned 바카라사이트mselves more centrally to this agenda than o바카라사이트rs.

He said all of Scotland¡¯s higher education institutions?had made some progress in promoting fair access, but 바카라사이트re?was scope to achieve more.

¡°We should also recognise that 바카라사이트 challenges that are faced by many of those who want to access higher education from our most disadvantaged areas ¨C child cost-of-living pressures, family poverty and 바카라사이트 poverty-related attainment gap in schools ¨C persist at unacceptably high levels, despite 바카라사이트 good intentions to work toward reduction, if not eradication,¡± he added.

Among his priorities for 2024 are commitments to examine what can be undertaken to improve retention rates among students from disadvantaged areas, and to engage with a broader range of stakeholders to promote shared responsibility for achieving fair access in Scotland.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com