University participation is at its most inclusive
Meet 40 students, past and present, and hear their views on Scotland’s journey to equalise access, informed by their personal experience.
This campaign is focused on the people behind Scotland’s ambitious journey to equalise access to university by 2030.
40 people from non-traditional routes. We’re here to listen and learn from their experience. Scotland’s universities have made huge strides forward in widening access to those who have experienced socio-economic disadvantage. With 6 years left to reach the 2030 goal of equal access, we need to see renewed energy from everyone committed to this goal.
MEET THEM
Faces & voices
Meet a diverse selection of students and graduates at the heart of widening access to HE. Their stories are about determination, personal success and the change they want to see.
KAREN HINTON
JAMIE KINLOCHAN
JENNIFER LYNCH
JAKE DOUGLAS
MEGAN ONGLEY
REBECCA MUNRO
JON GRAY
JAMIE DALGOUTTE
SHARON MACKAY
KAREN HINTON JAMIE KINLOCHAN JENNIFER LYNCH JAKE DOUGLAS MEGAN ONGLEY REBECCA MUNRO JON GRAY JAMIE DALGOUTTE SHARON MACKAY
LESSONS
Self-belief, or the lack thereof, was a strong theme expressed by our 40 Faces. Their collective ambition and determination is hugely inspiring but there is a persistent and damaging perception within society that some faces fit at university, and others don’t.
It takes a lot for individuals to overcome that.
That perception is being torn down by universities, with both action and words.
Start young on self-belief
LESSONS
NO WRONG PATH
Very few people here progressed from school to university in one easy step. There are many routes into university and no “wrong” or “right” way to go about it.
Universities are the strongest advocates of lifelong learning and work hard to create a diverse range of opportunities for all ages and stages of life.
LESSONS
Money matters
Money matters on two levels. Living costs, loans, fear of debt, a cost-of-living crisis and the pressure of balancing work with study, are very real concerns for our 40 Faces. More money in the pockets of students has to be one of the strongest calls-to-action from across our group.
LESSONS
join things up
Most of our students and graduates have very recently navigated the “system” from the inside and many have experienced inequality of opportunity from a young age.
They have strong opinions on the value of earlier, stronger and broader connections between schools, colleges and universities to help people to overcome these obstacles.