Current and future students at the University of Aberdeen look set to benefit from an announcement made today that the University has been awarded part of a £10 million funding boost to help widen access for students within Scottish higher education institutions.
The new funding allocation of £791,000 was announced today (Monday, January 20), by Iain Gray, Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning.
Scotland's 20 higher education institutions will use the funds to develop their infrastructure to meet the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.
Each institution is required to alter premises and remove physical barriers ahead of the deadline for compliance in September 2005.
The University is delighted to hear of the funding award, which will allow work to progress on improving the built environment to enable people with both sensory and physical disabilities to move around safely, independently and without undue restriction.
Dr Graeme Roberts, Vice-Principal, Teaching & Learning, was pleased to hear of the funding which will be of benefit to Aberdeen students. He said: "This is a significant grant and we welcome this funding from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).
"Aberdeen is already addressing the needs of improving physical access throughout the Campus and we have in place a plan to address this over the next seven years. However, this funding should enable us to accelerate our existing programme to improve the accessibility of our buildings and meet our requirements under the Act. The funding will be of particular benefit to current and future students to the University."
SHEFC's Chief Executive, Roger McClure, said: "Widening participation in Scottish higher education is a priority of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council."
Mr McClure added that: "Over the past few years we have sought to increase opportunities for people from under-participating groups in society to enter and remain in higher education, as well as to advise higher education institutions on how to comply with disability legislation.
"The allocation of additional funding from the Scottish Executive recognises the increased costs of providing higher education to students with a disability. The money will greatly assist the institutions to increase equality of opportunity for all."
The next deadline for the legislation is 1 September 2003 by which time higher education institutions must ensure that their provision of auxiliary aids and services do not discriminate unreasonably against disabled people.