This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Education community challenged to help widen access
03/06/2003
A challenge to drive forward the work on widening access to higher education was issued to the education community today.
Speaking at the "Within Reach" conference in Edinburgh, organised by Universities Scotland, Deputy Lifelong Learning Minister, Lewis Macdonald said:
"We are absolutely committed to the development of an educational culture in Scotland where everyone with the potential to succeed is enabled to fully realise that potential.
"We want to raise the aspirations of children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and see an increase in the number of those children recognising that higher education is a viable option for them."
While acknowledging the valuable work taking place within the Higher Education sector to encourage greater participation from the most disadvantaged groups within society, the Minister issued a challenge for the future:
"We need to work harder to drive forward this agenda and give real thought as to how the good work which takes place at a local level across Scotland can be given a sharper national dimension.
"Closing the opportunity gap that exists in educational attainment is our goal. I believe that the discussions taking place today will help to move us further towards realising this vision."
The conference, "Within Reach - Widening Participation / HEI admissions Policies" has been jointly organised by Universities Scotland, the representative body of Scotland's 21 Universities and Colleges of Higher Education, and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).
The Executive published its Lifelong Learning Strategy, "Life through Learning, Learning through Life" in January 2003. This sets out the Executive's five-year strategy for Lifelong Learning.
The Executive's Framework for Higher Education was published in March 2003. It sits within the overall Lifelong Learning Strategy and sets out how the Higher Education sector in Scotland needs to develop over the next ten years - in teaching and learning, research and knowledge transfer, and governance and management.