AQW 6023/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/08/2020
Answered On Date: 02/09/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what action the Department is taking to widen participation in Higher Education in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

Widening Participation in higher education (HE) is a key priority for the Department for the Economy. My Department works with the sector to ensure that opportunities in HE are available to all, regardless of background.

HE providers that charge above the basic fee are required to spend a minimum of 10% of that additional fee income on activities and support to widen access and participation to under-represented groups including low income, young males, people with disabilities, care experienced and adult returners.

It is up to individual providers to determine how to use the additional fee income most effectively and efficiently but spending must be outlined in

Widening Access and Participation Plans submitted to the Department annually for approval.

Access to Success has been our regional HE widening participation strategy since 2012 and will be subject to review in the near future. My officials will be working with a range of stakeholders in the HE sector to take this forward. Ultimately, I want to make sure that there continues to be appropriate support available to students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups to ensure they can progress into and through HE.