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Access, Learning and Outcomes directorate

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The Access, Learning and Outcomes directorate works to ensure priorities around access, skills, and academic quality. SFC’s Outcomes Framework sets out SFC’s expectations of colleges and universities in return for the funding that they receive.

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 lifelong learning 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, Skills & Coherent Provision, 0131 313 6682.

Erica Russell–Hensens, Deputy Director, Student Interests, Access & Quality, 0131 313 6618.

Elizabeth Shevlin, Deputy Director, Assurance & Outcomes, 0131 313 6614.

Directorate Office

Lorena Miller, PA to the Director, 0131 313 6500.

Elaine Malcolm, Interim Business Manager, 0131 313 6633.

Phoebe Stone, Directorate Business Manager, 0131 313 6584.

Assurance and Outcomes

Assurance

Sarah Kirkpatrick, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6696.

Cath Carr, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6532.

Outcomes and Assurance

Keith Coyne, Assistant Director Engagement, 0131 313 6554.

James Harrison, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6616.

Stef Black, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6628.

Grace Bott, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6559.

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 6543.

Cath Carr, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6532.

Institutional Engagement and Outcomes lead contacts

Download list of Institutional Engagement and Outcomes lead contacts  [PDF]

Regional Tertiary Pathfinders

Elizabeth Shevlin, Deputy Director, Coherent Learning Provision, 0131 313 6614.

Linda McLeod, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6694.

Helen Raftopoulos, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6577.

Seamus Spencer, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6673.

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.

Skills and Coherent Provision

Coherent Learning Provision

Helen Raftopoulos, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6577.

Seamus Spencer, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6673.

John Lewis. Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6667.

Mairi Mitchell, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6636.

Dr Upulani Somisara, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6613.

Nick Hill, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6668.

Work-based Learning and Skills Programmes

Philip McGuinness, Assistant Director, 0131 313 6572.

Louise Lauchlan, Senior Policy Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6582.

Alison Malcolm, Senior Policy Analyst, 0131 313 6522.

Nick Stansfeld, Policy/Analysis Officer, 0131 313 6539.

Student Interests, Access and Quality

Student Interests & Access

Fiona Burns, Assistant Director, Student Interests & Access, 0131 313 6517.

Eilidh Fulton, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6527.

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.

Catherine Canning, National Equality Outcomes Coordinator, 0131 313 6571.

Mary Macgowan, Administrative Officer, National Schools Programme, 0131 313 6544.

Learning and Quality

Karen Gray, Assistant Director, Learning & Quality, 0131 313 6520.

Stef Black, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6628.

Derek Horsburgh, Senior Policy Officer, 0131 313 6649.

Stewart Squire, Policy Officer, 0131 313 6525.

Contacting staff

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

SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27

Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.

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