An Introduction to Widening Participation in Scotland
An Introduction to Widening Participation in Scotland is a free course which has recently been developed for college and university staff who may engage with students from disadvantaged backgrounds and support underrepresented learners and we know that some colleges and universities include widening participation as part of their Student Mental Health Agreement work.
The course was developed by SCAPP (Scotland’s Community of Access and Participation in Scotland) and co-produced with professionals working within the Scottish education sector. The aim of the course is to build knowledge and understanding of widening participation theories which inform practice, as well as past and present policies and priorities of the changing further and higher education landscape in Scotland.
It will encourage participants to critically reflect on successes and ongoing challenges in the sector and how those relate to their own practice.
Course content:
- Theories and terminology in Widening Participation
- History and Timeline of Widening Participation in Scotland
- Types of Widening Participation Interventions: Pre-entry, Post-entry and Alternative pathways
- Considering Evaluation
- Information on Widening Participation cohorts
- The skills needed by a Widening Participation Practitioner
- Reflection Points
- Case Studies and the sharing of professional journeys
The importance of mental health and wellbeing of students is highlighted and embedded throughout the course. Some of what the course covers as part of this includes:
- Supporting students pre-entry, post-entry and with transitions
- Trauma-informed practice
- Information advice and guidance section with examples from institutions
The course is a free self-directed, online, and can be worked through at your own pace although the full course generally takes around 3-5 hours.
An Introduction to Widening Participation in Scotland.
