Worries over students leaving their courses

Abertay: Surge in those from deprived backgrounds abandoning studies

Abertay has seen a surge in the number of students from the most deprived backgrounds dropping out, according to official figures.

The Dundee university has gone from boasting the highest proportion of its poorest students staying on for the second year of their degree to the lowest in Scotland in just four years.

Bosses say they have already taken steps to improve retention, adding Abertay is among the top-performing universities in Scotland for admitting those from the lowest 20% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Jenny Marra, the Dundee-based Labour MSP, said: “It’s bad news that more students are not able to progress and complete their education at Abertay.

“The Scottish Government must take some responsibility with the withdrawal of student bursaries making it financially difficult for students to stay in education.

“But Abertay itself must look at the

“Abertay itself must look at the reason students are unable to continue their studies to see if they can reverse this trend. MSP JENNY MARRA, PICTURED

reasons students are unable to continue their studies to see if they can reverse this trend.”

In 2013-14, six Scottish students (3.7%) from the MD20 group starting their first full-time degree at Abertay dropped out before the second year. That increased to 32 in 2016-17, more than a quarter (26.5%) of those completing the first year.

An Abertay spokesman said it “leads the way in Scotland on widening access”.

“The figures in this report relate to the academic intake of 2015-16, at which time the university recognised a need to improve student retention,” the spokesman said.

“Since then we have recruited additional student advisers and are now part of a pathfinder project using the Study Goal smartphone app, which assists with student engagement and planning and identifies student support issues.”

Further and Higher Education Minister Shirley-anne Somerville said there will be a time lag before the positive impact of the Commission on Widening Access report from March 2016 takes hold.

Liz Smith, the Tory MSP, said: “The SNP will never be able to widen access to university until it comprehensively addresses schools’ attainment problems.”

gmcpherson@thecourier.co.uk