| "Widening
Access to education and employment for excluded groups presents a real
challenge. The terms 'seamless progression' and 'social inclusion' may trip lightly off the tongue but the reality is that
the time, effort and commitment of those involved in meeting this challenge
are considerable. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council recognises that problems of under-representation and social exclusion are localised and diverse and that additional costs are faced when working with people in deprived areas. This is why over £2.25m has been invested in widening access to higher education in 2001/2002. Both SHEFC and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council have supported four regional widening access forums. In this way knowledge and expertise built up over many years can be shared and built on to provide new and exciting provision. |
Increasingly higher
education institutions work in collaboration with colleges, schools, local
authorities, enterprise companies, national and voluntary agencies on projects
to widen access. Access to Industry is such
a project. The need to remove barriers to progression in education, training and employment, for under-represented groups is recognised and gradually being addressed. Access to Industry, by complementing both local and national provision, is enabling individuals to take their first step on that 'seamless pathway'". |
| Margaret Dundas, National Co-ordinator for widening participation Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education |
