Think Tank 2: Widening Access to Higher Education in Scotland, the UK and internationally

The aim of the project is to consider the future challenges and opportunities faced by higher education in Scotland and the rest of the UK in the case of further devolution or a vote for independence in autumn 2014. This think tank focuses on issues associated with widening participation and fair access to higher education.

Higher Education in Scotland, the Devolution Settlement and the Referendum on Independence seminar series

Key questions include the following:

• How has higher education contributed to social mobility in Scotland other parts of the developed world?
• What is the relationship between the recent expansion of the higher education system and the participation of traditionally under-represented groups? What variations are evident in the social profile of students in different parts of the UK? Is there any evidence of movement towards the EU’s goal of breaking the link between social class background and participation in higher education?
• Do pupils from poorer social backgrounds experience equal treatment in the university application process, particularly when applying to elite institutions?
• What measures appear to be successful in encouraging participation of pupils from under-represented groups?
• What differences currently exist between England and Scotland in terms of widening participation and fair access? What appears to be the impact of different funding regimes in England and Scotland? What further differences might emerge in the future in terms of widening participation and fair access between Scotland and other parts of the UK?

Event documents

Presentation slides