Professor Sally Mapstone has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in her Platinum Jubilee year. Sally has been made a DBE for her extraordinary services to higher education. Dame Sally has been Principal and Vice Chancellor the University of St Andrews since 2016. She has been Vice Convener of Universities Scotland since 2020 and…
Tag: Widening access
Our response to Sir Peter Scott’s Final Report as Commissioner for Fair Access
Responding to the final report from the Commission for Fair Access, Sir Peter Scott, Director of Universities Scotland, Alastair Sim said: “Scotland’s universities have achieved a lot when it comes to widening access in recent years. As a sector, we have introduced the most progressive admissions policies for students in the UK and have reached…
Professor Sally Mapstone on University Funding
Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews. She is also the Vice Convener of Universities Scotland and chairs our Admissions Policy Group. Published in The Herald on Friday 27th May 2022. Since its establishment in 1413 as Scotland’s first university, the University of St Andrews has been…
New figures show no let-up on widening access from universities
Universities Scotland have welcomed the publication of the Report on Widening Access 2020-21 by the sector’s funding body, the Scottish Funding Council which demonstrates the sector’s commitment to widening access. The Scottish Government’s Commission on Widening Access set the sector a target that by 2021, students from the 20% most-disadvantaged backgrounds (SIMD20) should represent at…
Universities Scotland’s contribution the UK Government’s Higher Education Reform and LLE Policy Consultations
Universities Scotland has contributed to the UK Government’s Higher Education Reform and Lifelong Loan Entitlement policy consultations. Whilst the proposed policy reforms primarily relate to universities in England, we seek assurances that any change to student funding will not create unintentional consequences for English-domiciled students wishing to study at Scottish institutions. We have highlighted a…
Professor Sally Mapstone on Care Day 2022
Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews. She is also the Vice Convener of Universities Scotland and chairs our Admissions Policy Group. Universities are powerful engines of social change and the University of St Andrews has, for over six centuries, provided the requisite skills and knowledge to…
Universities Scotland’s submission to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on the attainment challenge
We have provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee to assist with their inquiry on the attainment challenge. Our submission highlights the role that the attainment challenge will play in ensuring fair admissions to universities; the key role that better data could play in making decisive policy interventions as well…
Record breaking widening access success highlighted in new figures
Responding to the publication of the Higher Education Student Statistics UK 2020-21, which shows the highest number and proportion of Scottish students from Scotland’s most deprived areas, Universities Scotland Director, Alastair Sim said: “It’s a source of pride for the sector that more students than ever from Scotland’s most deprived areas are studying and hopefully…
Universities Scotland response to education reform consultation
Universities Scotland has responded to a consultation led by Professor Ken Muir on reforming the Scottish education system. The consultation invites views on the Scottish Government’s intention to replace the SQA and create a new specialist agency for both curriculum and assessment. Reform to Education Scotland, including removing the function of inspection from the agency,…