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Access, Learning and Outcomes

The Access, Learning and Outcomes directorate works to ensure priorities around access, skills, and academic quality. Its outcome agreement teams facilitate discussions with colleges and universities that lead to the publication of outcome agreements.

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The access team within the directorate takes a national lead on fair access to further and higher education and for making sure that Scotland reaches the targets set in A Blueprint for Fair Access, the report published by Scotland’s Commission on Widening Access. SFC’s current access programmes include initiatives designed to support learners from deprived areas, care-experienced students, ex-service personnel, and learners with disabilities.

The directorate also has responsibility for skills and economic transformation and for SFCs’ statutory requirement to secure provision for assessing and enhancing the quality of further and higher education in Scotland.

  • Jacqui Brasted, Interim Director, 0131 313 6536.
  • Sharon Drysdale, Deputy Director, Work-based Learning and Skills Programmes, 0131 313 6682.
  • Erica Russell–Hensens, Deputy Director, Student Interests, Access & Pathways, 0131 313 6618.
  • Elizabeth Shevlin, Deputy Director, Coherent Learning Provision, 0131 313 6500.

Director's office

  • Nicola McGhee, Business Manager, 0131 313 6500.
  • Amy Jamieson, PA to the Director, 0131 313 6531.
  • Elaine Malcolm, Group Co-ordinator, 0131 313 6633.

Coherent Learning Provision

  • Helen Raftopoulos, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6577.
  • Seamus Spencer, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6673.
  • Mairi Mitchell, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6500.
  • Dr Upulani Somisara, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6613.
  • Nick Hill, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6500.

Regional Tertiary Pathfinders

  • Elizabeth Shevlin, Deputy Director, Coherent Learning Provision, 0131 313 6500.
  • Helen Raftopoulos, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6577.
  • Seamus Spencer, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6673.
  • Linda McLeod, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6694.
  • Daniel Proudfoot, Senior Data Analyst, 0131 313 6533.
  • Upulani Somisara, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6613.
  • Morven Pritchard, Project Governance Officer, 0131 313 6665.

Further information on the Regional Tertiary Pathfinders.

Outcomes and Assurance

Assurance

  • Sarah Kirkpatrick, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6696.
  • Cath Carr, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6532.

Learning and Quality

  • Karen Gray, Assistant Director, Outcomes (Learning and Quality), 0131 313 6500.
  • Derek Horsburgh, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6649.
  • Stewart Squire, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6500.

Outcome process

  • Keith Coyne, Assistant Director Engagement, 0131 313 6554.
  • James Harrison, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6500.
  • Stef Black, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6500.
  • Louise Lauchlan, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6582.
  • Phoebe Mayer, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6626.
  • Emma Roberts, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6570.
  • Hannah Wilson, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6500.
  • Cath Carr, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6532.

Institutional Engagement and Outcome Agreements lead contacts

SFC outcome agreement contacts cover thumbnailDownload list of Institutional Engagement and Outcome Agreements lead contacts [PDF]

Student Interests, Access and Pathways

  • Fiona Burns, Assistant Director Outcomes, Access (Access Policy Lead), 0131 313 6517.
  • Rachel Adamson, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6563.
  • Eilidh Fulton, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6500.
  • Steph Kirkham, Senior Policy Officer, National Schools Programme, 0131 313 6652.
  • Carina Macritchie, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6546.
  • Anna Wallace, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6605.
  • Mary Macgowan, Administrative Officer, National Schools Programme, 0131 313 6500.

Work-based Learning and Skills Programmes

  • Philip McGuinness, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6572.
  • Louise Lauchlan, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6582.
  • Nick Stansfeld, Policy/Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6539.

Contacting staff

contactSCOTLAND-BSL connects Deaf BSL users throughout Scotland through a video relay service (VRS) with all of Scotland’s public authorities.

Unless specified, the standard email address format for SFC staff is first initial+surname@sfc.ac.uk.