New Govan education hub will help pupils reach university goals
PUPILS are to be given support to move into higher education as new learning centres open in Glasgow. A ground- breaking project between Glasgow and Edinburgh universities with charity IntoUniversity will see specialist hubs open for young people aged seven to 18.
One is planned to open in Govan in March next year while fundraising is under way for a second in Maryhill in the autumn.
Some £ 2.7 million has been raised to fund the Govan centre and another in Edinburgh for a pilot period of five years.
Working closely with local schools, colleges and other agencies, the centres will provide after- school academic tuition, mentoring and programmes to enable young people to achieve their ambitions.
Dr Rachel Carr OBE, co- founder and CEO of IntoUniversity, said: “We are delighted that this new partnership with the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh is enabling IntoUniversity to serve young people in Scotland.
“Three new learning centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh will use the power of education to lift young people out of poverty, opening up new worlds of possibility.
“We look forward to working in partnership with local schools, colleges, third- sector organisations, businesses and councils, along with the universities, to bring this project to fruition.”
The partnership is based upon a shared concern for children growing up experiencing poverty and a belief in the power of education to transform young people’s lives.
The new IntoUniversity centres will provide long- term support with young people’s educational outcomes and their journey into employment and a positive destination.
IntoUniversity has carried out detailed feasibility work and consultation to ensure that the new centres will play a valuable role alongside other services for young people.
The centres will complement extensive work that both universities already do to widen access to higher education, by providing community- based support to young people on their doorstep.
Through activities at the universities, young people will develop their understanding of university life and awareness of the opportunities that higher education has to offer.
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice- chancellor of Glasgow University, added: “For the university and the city to thrive, we need to be able to empower people across our communities to meet their full potential and this ground- breaking collaboration – delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh and IntoUniversity – represents the next step in realising that ambition, with the potential to transform the lives of some of our most disadvantaged young people.”