The Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning will meet people on Friday, 28th July who are taking part in a bp-backed University of Aberdeen scheme to put disadvantaged students on the fast-track into higher education.
Aberdeen South MSP Nicol Stephen will meet with university staff and a bp representative at around 11.15am before addressing the summer school students on various issues, including student support and widening access to Higher Education.
The University’s summer school programme is now in its tenth year and over the past decade has helped around 1,000 students gain access to university courses as diverse as law, medicine and philosophy. This year bp has donated £10,000, renewing its support after being involved in the programme for its first three years.
Summer School for Access Director, Dr Chris Cudworth, said: “The programme is designed to enable people to enter higher education, who have the potential and capability to study for a degree, but may not have achieved the qualifications, or may have under-achieved in the past due to certain circumstances.
“For many of these people the course is not their second chance, but their first and only chance of progressing on to their degree studies.”
Steve Marshall, bp’s Regional President Scotland, said: “Investing in Aberdeen University’s summer school programme highlights bp’s commitment to helping people reach their full potential. Every student involved in the programme has overcome difficulties to be here, and that kind of dedication and persistence is admirable and well worth rewarding.
“Since being involved with the programme initially, it is encouraging to see the programme thriving into its tenth year.”
Students for the course are drawn from various sources including school guidance teacher recommendations and the roll of further education colleges. Those put forward are often from disadvantaged or deprived backgrounds where little emphasis has been placed on the importance of higher education or people whose studies have been disrupted in the past, for example by illness.
Alongside the academic subjects, the summer school gives training in study skills and provides an introduction to university life. Students wanting to change faculty, for example from studying an arts to a science subject, can do so without having additional years added on to their course.
The bp donated funds go towards providing bursary support for maintenance and a study bursary for students who do not live within commuting distance.
This year, around 100 students took part in the course, which is due to finish on August 25. This group is expected to study a host of diverse subjects at university, with many of them planning to attend the North-east university in order to continue their studies.
Further information from:
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.