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
Money matters
No wrong path
Start young on self-belief
Key to success
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.
BETH MEAD
DAMIAN BARR
JEANETTE ASHMOLE
MALIK AL NASIR
KIRAN SAHOTA
KADEENA COX
BETH MEAD DAMIAN BARR JEANETTE ASHMOLE MALIK AL NASIR KIRAN SAHOTA KADEENA COX
BETH MEAD
Start young on self-belief
Self-belief, or lack thereof, was a strong theme. There is no lack of personal ambition amongst our 40 Faces but there is a persistent and highly damaging perception that some faces fit at university, and others don’t.
That perception is being torn down by universities, with actions and words.
Close partnerships between schools, colleges and universities are key to building self-belief from a young age. Several people mentioned the value of seeing relatable role models at university and being part of university outreach activities in schools. Erraid, from Aberdeen…vital. For Mia, mentorship programmes and outreach initiatives really make a difference.
University advice and support from the pre-application stage, through to entry and beyond can make all the difference, practically and emotionally, to building a sense of belonging.
Read Jon’s experience of Glasgow University going “above and beyond” to support him and Jamie’s feeling of the “authentic relationships” he built with University staff. Scott also told us he feels “lucky to have had Stirling University “in my corner”.
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KADEENA COX
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.
Many also raised concerns around the level of resource going into widening access initiatives. Some did so directly, with Rebecca at St Andrews saying: “funding is essential in ensuring the tireless work in widening access continues” and [add someone else here to reinforce this point].
In some cases it was more explicit, linked to calls for more university outreach and partnerships with schools, more support with transitions, more advice and guidance – from those who know the value of this work, but also recognise that it takes money to do it
NO WRONG PATH
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MALIK AL NASIR
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KAREN HINTON
Key to success
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