North-east universities urged to widen access for working class students
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ABERDEEN-based universities must do more to attract working class students, North East region MSP has urged.
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman made the call as new figures from the Scottish Funding Council revealed the number of students from working-class communities going to the University of Aberdeen has dropped while the number attending Robert Gordon University has risen slightly. Both universities have failed to meet the target of having 10 per cent of full-time first-degree entrants from the 20 per cent most deprived backgrounds.
Just 7.9 per cent of students at the University of Aberdeen were from the most deprived areas, down from 8.6 per cent last year. Robert Gordon University recruited 6.2 per cent of its students from working class communities, up only marginally from 6.1 per cent.
The figures also revealed a small drop in the proportion of students from deprived communities across Scotland within the overall population of university entrants, falling from 16.7 per cent in 2020-21 to 16.5 per cent in 2021-22. The Scottish Funding Council has a target of having 20 per cent of university entrants from the 20 per cent most disadvantaged backgrounds by 2030.
The report also showed that the average retention rate – the number of students coming back for a second year – dropped to 88.6 per cent for those from deprived areas, down from 90.2 per cent. The figure for all students is 91.5 per cent.
Ms Chapman said: "It is disappointing that both the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University are failing to attract working class students.
"Education is vital for our society, and accessing university should be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay. That is why I believe in free universal education.
“We must ensure that working class students across the north-east have the same opportunities as others that a university education can provide. And we need to provide appropriate support beyond just the academic programmes for students while they are at university, from decent, affordable accommodation to mental health support.
“We also need fairness for international students. They cannot continue to be used as cash cows by the higher education sector. We should enable people to reach their full potential and contribute to society in a variety of ways, regardless of their economic or national background.
“Scotland’s internationally renowned universities are among our greatest assets. I benefited from learning and teaching in the sector before I was an MSP. I want every child growing up in the North East to be able to benefit from these important institutions.”
