The Scottish Funding Council’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) states that by 2030 no subject at college or university should have an extreme gender imbalance of 75:25 and sets a target to reduce the gap between male and female participation in undergraduate study to 5%. These are ambitious targets for our institutions to meet, and we must make sure that the student voice is heard throughout the process of creating the Gender Action Plans. 

Over the course of 2017/18 NUS Scotland and sparqs will be working in partnership to deliver a project to develop student engagement in Gender Action Plans (GAPs). The pilot project will develop expertise in student engagement in GAPs through delivery of a pilot project with four colleges and four universities and will:

• Provide participating institutions with access to sectoral organisations that can support them in developing and enhancing student engagement in their GAP
• Increase knowledge in the sector about different approaches to student engagement 
• Provide a platform for gathering and showcasing best practice   
• Promote opportunities for peer-to-peer support and learning

The key commitment for participating institutions will be attendance at three events throughout the year. Each college/university can send up to three delegates to each event, including a student representative, a member of college/university staff with responsibility for contributing to the GAP and where possible a staff member whose role is to work with elected officers and support the work of the Students’ Association.

The institutions taking part in the Gender Action Plan pilot project are:

• City of Glasgow College
• North East Scotland College
• West Lothian College
• West Highland College UHI
• University of Stirling
• University of Abertay
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Aberdeen

Resources

Download our Student Engagement in the Gender Action Plan briefing (2016) here.