Professor McKendrick appointed Commissioner for Fair Access

Professor John McKendrick has been appointed Scotland's new Commissioner for Fair Access.

The co-director of the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit at GCU will oversee efforts by universities and colleges to offer equal access to higher education.

Professor McKendrick succeeds Sir Peter Scott in the independent advisory role, designed to hold ministers and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to account as they work towards fair access targets.

The sector must ensure a fifth of all entrants to higher education come from the 20% most deprived communities in Scotland by 2030.

Professor McKendrick said: "It is a great honour to be appointed Commissioner for Fair Access and I relish the opportunity of working with those committed to tackling inequalities in participation.

"Progress has been made toward meeting the ambitious 2030 target to widen participation but the world in which we live has changed.

"The COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have intensified the problems for those already facing the most disadvantage.

"We now need to upscale our efforts to widen participation if Scotland is to prosper as a high-skill economy and to do so as an inclusive society."

Professor McKendrick will combine his new role with his work at GCU. As Commissioner, he will produce an annual report to ministers outlining his views on progress towards equal access, and work closely with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council, Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland and NUS Scotland.

Professor Alastair Robertson,  Pro Vice-Chancellor in Learning and Teaching at GCU, said: “I am delighted that John has been appointed as Scotland’s new Commissioner for Fair Access.

"This is a very important, high profile, role that is responsible for leading a holistic effort to fair access to higher education in Scotland.

"John's appointment is a testament to his major contributions to tackling poverty and inequality in society.”