A recent expansion of the existing Articulation Agreement with Forth Valley College has opened up a massive 24 new routes for students at the college wanting to progress to degree level courses within the Stirling Management School.
The SFC’s Report on Widening Access 2021-22 showed that students accessing higher education via college pathways are more likely to come from underprivileged backgrounds and minority groups. This means that the expected increase in numbers of students from these routes will not only boost the school’s recruitment numbers but also help the university meet government and Scottish Funding Council targets for widening participation.
This success builds on the work of other faculties in agreeing new articulation routes with local colleges.
In the last 5 academic years, around a third of Scottish undergraduate entrants joining degree courses with advanced entry were on Nursing pathways. In August 2024 the Faculty of Health and Sport Science signed two new Nursing Articulation agreements with Perth College UHI and New College Lanarkshire, in addition to the agreements they already have with Forth Valley and Fife Colleges.
Dr Anne Taylor, Strategic Practice Lead for Nursing & Paramedic Science says: “this has been an exciting time where we have worked closely with our local colleges to enhance and increase our year 2 entrants’ pathways to progress into our BSc Nursing programme. Through dedicated support and planning the students will join the nursing profession and become part of our much-needed nursing workforce.”
Computing Science has also benefited from Articulation agreements with Forth Valley and Fife College.
Around 10% of all students with advanced entry in the last 5 years, joined computing programmes. Professor Mario Kolberg (Computing Science) said that in his experience “the students particularly impress with their strong practical programming skills and integrate well with the other students in the class.”
The SQA Guide to HN qualifications states that: “Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) are specifically designed to meet the needs of employers. These short-cycle higher education qualifications provide learners with practical working skills and the theoretical knowledge employers need.”
Because HN qualifications develop learners’ practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge, they provide excellent preparation for entry into the second or third year of a university degree.