Commentary on Sections of the Act Part 2 – Fee and Access Plans Section 6 – Promotion of equality of opportunity and higher education
23.This section requires a fee and access plan to include any provisions relating to the promotion of equality of opportunity in connection with access to higher education or the promotion of higher education which are prescribed by regulations.
24.Regulations may, for instance, require the governing body of an institution to commit, by way of its fee and access plan, to take measures to attract applications from prospective students who, as at the date of the plan’s approval, are members of groups that are under-represented in higher education. This might in practice involve outreach measures such as the provision of summer schools or engagement with schools or colleges, with the intention of widening participation by attracting students who might otherwise not consider entering higher education at all or not consider applying to particular institutions.
25.Regulations may also require governing bodies of institutions to commit, through their fee and access plans, to take measures to retain students who are members of under-represented groups. These measures might include both academic and pastoral support such as study skills support or coaching and mentoring programmes which are tailored to meet the specific needs of under-represented groups in higher education.