Scottish universities hit target for widening access

The Herald 31 January 2021

Universities in Scotland are celebrating after reaching a significant milestone in their commitment to widen access, as the latest figures show 16.4% of students were from the most deprived backgrounds in the academic year 2019-20, writes John-Paul Holden for The Herald.

It comes after the Commission on Widening Access recommended that 16% of students should be from SIMD20 (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) backgrounds by 2021, with an overall aim to reach 20% by 2030.

Responding to the rise in number of enrolments and students from deprived areas, Universities Scotland Director Alastair Sim said: “Universities are interested in talent … Where you come from should not dictate whether you should go to university and today’s news shows that progress is being made in Scotland … This is a fantastic achievement that shows the commitment of our universities to widen access. We have reached the 2021 target a year ahead of time, but the hard work continues as we look to 2030 and beyond.”
Full report on The Herald site

Receive email updates from UWN

Global newsletters    Africa newsletters    Other
    (other includes related events and webinars)

Data will be processed according to our standard terms & conditions.

Research focuses on production of jet fuel from halophytes

UAE University staff

With an eye to developing a clean, alternative aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions, researchers at the United Arab Emirates University have been focusing on the production of jet fuel from sustainable resources such as halophytes, which are salt-tolerant plants that could be cultivated on a wider scale in the region’s coastal areas.

The value of being human: How teachers can work alongside AI

Michael Milligan

Artificial intelligence is now a part of our evolution in technology and teachers need to be encouraged to find ways to bring AI into the classroom and have students use it in a way that is beneficial to them in the long term.

Ground-breaking research on seawater biodesalination

UAE University staff

As water scarcity reaches critical levels globally, a research team at the United Arab Emirates University seeks to revolutionise seawater desalination practices, offering a path to mitigate water scarcity while championing environmental preservation.