This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Young people urged to 'go for GOALS'
27/05/2002
A website designed to help young people in the west of Scotland consider higher education when thinking about their future was launched today.
The Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Iain Gray challenged young people not to settle for second best when thinking about their futures at the launch of GOALS at Glasgow Caledonian University.
A group of around 100 school pupils from all over the west of Scotland were told that it is never too early to start thinking about what they want to do with their lives and realise their potential.
The GOALS project, one of 16 wider access schemes being funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, has received the support of all of the Higher Education Institutions in the West of Scotland as well as 45 secondary schools and around 250 primary schools.
Mr Gray told the pupils:
"We all have a certain amount of natural talent, intelligence and practical ability. And it is that potential which gives us the chance to succeed in life. So don't settle for second best. Think about what you really want to do and go for it.
"Going on to further or higher education gives you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in life and to be the best you can be. Getting a good education can dramatically improve your chances of reaching your goals. Getting the right skills now will mean that you can get the job you want in the future. It is never too early to start thinking about the future."
Earlier in the day the Minister delivered the keynote address to the joint Universities Scotland/SHEFC confernece. The Minister used his address to urge the sector to build on the excellent work being carried out in Scotland in terms of widening access.
The Minister said:
"We need to ensure that the diverse needs of the learner are at the heart of what we do. We need to recognise and remove any unnecessary cultural barriers within our institutions. And we need to embed wider access, make it part of the core business of what institutions do, and something which all staff are responsible for."
The Greater Opportunity of Access and Learning with Schools (GOALS) project provides a spectrum of opportunity for school pupils, from age 10 to 18, to learn about and become familiar with Higher Education (HE). Targeted at schools with low rates of progression to HE, the project aims to stimulate pupils towards achievement at school and, ultimately, to progress to higher education and a rewarding career.
The Executive's second public consultation paper on the Review of Higher Education in Scotland entitled "Shaping our Future" was published on 26 April 2002. Responses are requested by the end of July.