Widening access beyond socio-economic status
Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said:
“Universities take a broad approach to widening access which focuses on addressing under-representation of all kinds including the participation of students with disabilities and care leavers alongside those from less advantaged socio-economic groups. Universities will continue to approach their role in widening access on this broad understanding; an approach with is evident in universities’ intentions as laid out in their outcome agreements on access. The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill makes reference to outcome agreements on access negotiated between the Funding Council and universities. Such outcome agreements are already in existence for academic year 2012/13. Universities’ broad approach to widening access of under-represented groups is reflected in each institution’s individual published outcome agreements, and the majority of universities have provisions relating to improving access based on a range of socio-economic indicators including care leavers and those with disabilities. Universities are monitored annually by The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) using Performance Indicators which provide comparative data on the performance of institutions in widening access.”