UNIVERSITY access criteria needs to be made clearer to applicants to boost numbers of students from deprived areas, Scotland’s Commissioner for Fair Access has said.
Professor Peter Scott said universities should spell out what weighting is given to consideration of background.
He said: “I do think it is extremely important that people have a good understanding that if people do have a marker of some kind, an indicator, what weight is going to be attached to that?
“Does it guarantee them an interview? Does it guarantee a place? Or does it simply guarantee them some rather nebulous ‘extra’ consideration?
“I think that should be made as clear as possible.”
He acknowledged this would have limits as acceptance decisions are made on an individual basis by universities.
He added: “The problem is that the current system can be a bit opaque, a bit obscure for someone actually applying for a place, or the people advising them.
“The greater transparency we can have the better.”
Scott was appointed commissioner in December 2016 as part of a Scottish Government drive to have 20 per cent of new entrants to higher education from the most deprived parts of Scotland by 2030.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here