Commenting on Fair Access to HE: progress and challenges, annual report 2020 by the Commissioner for Fair Access, Sir Peter Scott, a Universities Scotland spokesperson said:
“Sir Peter’s report reinforces that universities are not only on track but ahead of schedule to meet the 2021 interim targets on widening access. That’s a very positive position to be in just now but we absolutely agree that there’s no opportunity to pause there; it is only going to get harder and he is right to highlight that the coronavirus pandemic poses a range of additional obstacles to widening access at all levels of the education system. Universities were quick to offer reassurance in early April that the pandemic would not divert their efforts and we’ve made widening access a focus of our discussions with the SQA over alternatives to the exam diet in schools. Sir Peter’s emphasis on the need to sustain funding to support widening access is very welcome.
“Last year, Universities Scotland’s focus was on supporting universities to deliver minimum entry requirements and guaranteed offers for applicants with experience of care. This year, we’ve invested a lot of time with students and with our partners in the college sector looking at how to increase the amount of articulation with full credit given. We’re excited to be able to share the outcomes of this work in the next couple of months.”
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