I thank the committee for the opportunity to give evidence this morning. Much has happened since we last met. We have supported many students to return home for the winter break, and we have also set out how best to enable their safe return for term 2. Our European Union exit transition also came to an end.
The new coronavirus variant has thrown up serious challenges, and our colleges and universities and the community learning sector, as well as all students and staff, have a significant role to play in our national effort. The enormous amount of work that has been undertaken in recent months by the staff in our institutions, the accommodation providers and our students has helped to limit the spread of the virus and ensure everyone’s safety, and it should not be underestimated in such challenging circumstances. For that, I thank everyone involved.
We published guidance on 15 January and some frequently asked questions on 22 January to provide the clarity that is required by college and university staff and students and their families about the arrangements for the start of term 2. For most students, the message was and remains for them to stay at home. Across the country, we are asking people to limit their movement and interactions, so those students who returned home for their winter break should not return to term-time accommodation unless they have been advised to do so by the university or college. The only exceptions to that are the small number of students whose attendance is absolutely critical and whose education cannot be delivered remotely or postponed. It is worth remembering that all arrangements are subject to the future review of Covid-19 conditions in Scotland.
With learning being predominantly online throughout January and February, I understand that that is not the education experience that students expect or deserve. We must always remember that this has also been a difficult time for college and university staff, professionally and in terms of looking after their own wellbeing, and I have been impressed with the way in which they have gone above and beyond in providing their students with an education in the most trying of circumstances.
On student wellbeing, colleges, universities and accommodation providers have a duty of care to students. We expect institutions to ensure that students are fully aware of the new measures that are in place and that they have the support that they need to study remotely.
We have further supported student mental health and welfare by making available additional resources, and we continue to support National Union of Students Scotland’s think positive initiative, which now has a Covid-19 focus.
I have asked accommodation providers to treat students who are living away from home sympathetically and to take their circumstances into account so that they are not disadvantaged. I welcome the many examples of universities and other providers offering significant discounts, rebates or refunds to students, and I strongly encourage other providers to consider how they, too, can treat their students sympathetically. I understand that many students are now taking advantage of the provisions in law to withdraw from accommodation leases, and I have written to providers and students to remind them of that provision.
A positive development was confirmed yesterday. The Government announced £30 million of additional funding to support institutions and others that have lost revenue because of accommodation costs, and to provide further support for students who have been affected and find themselves in hardship because of the crisis. That will allow college and university students who require extra support to be able to access it, and it will help to relieve the pressure on institutions that have faced additional costs arising from rent refunds and rebates and other accommodation issues.
I am pleased to tell the committee that I am creating a short-life task force that will assess the impact of Covid-19 and the pandemic on student hardship. I want that route to determine whether the measures and mechanisms that are currently in place are sufficient to mitigate student hardship in further and higher education at this time. The group will convene for the first time during the next few days.
Being aware of the potential long-term impact on educational attainment and the financial impact that the pandemic is having on our colleges and universities, I have agreed to the setting up of a task force to consider those issues while looking to term 3 and beyond.
Today’s new higher education statistics for 2019-20 show that a record number of students were enrolled at Scottish institutions and that the number of Scotland-domiciled students was at a 10-year high. Members might be aware that, for this academic year, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service also reported that acceptances by Scotland-domiciled students are at a record high for institutions in Scotland.
Importantly for higher education, the statistics also bring the good news that the widening access interim target in higher education that 16 per cent of full-time first-time degree entrants to Scottish universities should be from our 20 per cent most deprived areas has been exceeded. I thank everyone in the sector who has helped to ensure that that important milestone has been reached.
I have said this to the committee many times but it remains absolutely true: the challenges for all in further and higher education have been unprecedented, as has been the response. It is to the enormous credit of all the agencies, the college and university staff, the students and the unions that their response to the most difficult of circumstances has been so helpful and positive. It has made a huge difference. I greatly appreciate that, and I look forward to working with them and the committee throughout the remainder of the academic year.