6 June 2013

New guaranteed degree places for local college students

Photocall: 10.50am, Thursday June 6th
Dundee College Gardyne Road campus

More than 100 college students in Dundee and Angus will have a guaranteed place at university following a new partnership to widen access to higher education.

Thanks to a partnership between the University of Dundee, Abertay University, Dundee College and Angus College, an additional 125 places are available for students to study science, computing, computing arts, art and design, and sports degrees.

Students will spend the first two years of their studies at college before entering into second or third year of a degree programme.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has supported these new places as part of its work to widen access to university.

Professor Nigel Seaton, Principal of Abertay University, said, "This is great news for young people in Dundee and Angus, who now have more opportunities to continue their academic studies up to degree level and beyond. As a university founded for and still strongly rooted in its local community, Abertay is proud to join in partnership with Dundee University and Dundee and Angus College, and we congratulate the Scottish Funding Council on its continuing commitment to widening access."

Professor Pete Downes, Principal of the University of Dundee, said, "We are committed to offering a variety of routes into University so that as many students as possible can benefit from the education experience we offer, which is among the very best in the UK. This investment from the SFC in additional funded places marks an innovative new approach for students who begin their studies at College and go on to consolidate their degree at University. The new funds are promoting more action and efficient allocation with benefits to students."

Christina Potter, Designate Principal of Dundee and Angus College, said, "We are delighted to recognise this very positive partnership development with our sister universities. The introduction of formal articulation and widening access agreements will ensure that many more college students have a guarantee of progression from college based study to university. Furthermore, it encourages university and college staff to work together, designing courses which provide both accredited stepping off points and onward progression to Degree level study. This provides both the flexibility and efficiency that our students need."

Laurence Howells, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said, "It's great to see colleges and universities working together to widen access to a university degree in new ways. This is good news for students, who will have more opportunities to develop job-related skills, and good news for businesses which will gain highly skilled graduates for these industries."

Notes to editors

The University of Dundee has 85 places spread across disciplines including life sciences and computing, while Abertay University has 40 places covering life sciences, computing, computing arts and sport.

Launch event and photocall
Thursday 6 June
Dundee College, Gardyne Campus Atrium

Programme
10.00am - refreshments

10.30-10.50am - speeches from:
Christina Potter, Designate Principal, Dundee & Angus College
Professor Nigel Seaton, Principal, University of Abertay Dundee
Professor Pete Downes, Principal, University of Dundee
Fiona Burns, Outcome Agreement Manager, Scottish Funding Council
10.50-11.10am - signing of the Memorandum of Agreements & photo opportunity

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902