The OUSA Scottish Assembly, following the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on “Putting Learners at the Centre " Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education” discussed in depth the impact of the proposals at its meeting in November 2011 and online on the OUSA Scottish Assembly online forums, and agreed that this is a major consultation exercise by the Scottish Government that required OUSA in Scotland to make a formal response. This follows from the Scottish Government’s earlier consultation on “Building a Smarter Future: Towards a Sustainable Scottish Solution for the Future of Higher Education” to which the Scottish Assembly made a response in March 2011, and followed up with an ‘Election Manifesto’ in May 2011 during the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011.
The OUSA Scottish Assembly feel that this is a turning point for Post-16 Education in Scotland and that OUSA’s experience in part-time and distance learning higher education makes it a leader in representing this group of students, and as such any change in Post-16 Education needs the voice of students who have experience of non conventional educational pathways.
George Macfarlane, OUSA Scottish Executive Member, stated “While our response to the Scottish Government consultation is looking to the future, we are also looking for parity between institutions, to ensure a level playing field. Open University students are already discriminated against by the system, as our University is funded on completions rather than number of students registered " unlike other institutions. Part-time students, irrelevant of institution, have to pay up-front fees, full time students do not.”
George went on to say “The OUSA Scottish Assembly are fully aware that some of their recommendations may not be palatable with politicians, or even the Higher Education system in Scotland, but as the leading student association in Scotland representing part-time and distance learning students, the Assembly feel that it is now time to raise the standard and ensure that the needs and wishes of part time and distance learners are fully heard by politicians and the wider higher education environment. "
Read OUSA's submission to the Scottish Government
