High Level Summary of Equality Statistics: Key Trends for Scotland 2006

5. Lifelong Learning

Introduction to Lifelong Learning and Equality

This section of the High Level Summary of Equality Statistics ( HLSES) presents key information on lifelong learning in Scotland across a number of equality dimensions including age, disability, ethnicity, gender and religion. It reflects key areas of activity identified in the main High Level Summary of Statistics ( HLSS) chapter on lifelong learning ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics) from an equalities perspective and includes a few additional topics where these are particularly relevant to equality issues. Where the main HLSS publication presents data by any of these equality dimensions, these are also shown here for ease of reference.

As well as showing key high level trends, the analysis highlights where differences and potential areas of inequality may exist for lifelong learning in Scotland for those groups outlined above. The analysis is not intended to provide a definitive set of equalities data and more detailed statistics across the equality dimensions, where available, are referenced in the links provided. It is also not possible to break down all topics by all equality dimensions.

There are limitations in how far some data can be broken down by the above equality dimensions. Much of the information in this chapter is derived from administrative data collected for example at the time of application or enrolment for a course. Some information, such as that on ethnicity and disability, are not mandatory and therefore may not have been supplied by a significant number of students.

Possible reasons underlying the differences reported in this chapter are not detailed here. Factors which contribute to differences between equality groups represent a complex interplay of cultural, demographic and socio-economic factors and, as such, are outwith the scope of this publication. However some links to relevant research are provided, where available.

Higher Education Students in Scotland

Higher Education Students in Scotland: Gender

Since 1994-95 the number of higher education students studying in Scotland has been steadily increasing. In the ten years since 1994-95, the number of male students has increased by 14% from 105,690 to 120,090, whilst for females it has increased by 60% from 97,670 to 156,615. Since 1996-97, female students have outnumbered male students and this gap is increasing steadily. In 2004-05 female students account for 57% of all higher education students.

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)
Note: 1. Numbers include students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions or Further Education Colleges in Scotland.

Publications

Social Focus on Women and Men 2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sfwm/docs/sfwm-00.asp

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Higher Education Students in Scotland: Disability

Since 2000-01 the number of higher education students studying in Scotland has been steadily increasing for disabled and non-disabled people. In the five years since 2000-01, the number of disabled students has increased by 67% from 8,820 to 14,720, whilst for non-disabled students it has increased by 8% from 222,955 to 240,270 (where disability status is known). In 2004-05 disabled students account for 6% of all higher education students and this compares to 3% in 2000-01 (where disability status is known).

It should be noted that these figures may represent an undercount of the number of disabled and/or non-disabled students because the number of students for whom disability status is unknown/ not disclosed is fairly high for each year reported (ranging from 8% to 12%).

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)
Note: 1. Numbers include students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions or Further Education Colleges in Scotland.

Publications

Social Focus on Disability 2004 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/08/19818/41697

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Higher Education Students in Scotland: Ethnic Group

The proportion of higher education students studying in Scotland who are from minority ethnic groups is 6.7% in 2004-05 (where ethnic group is known), similar to the figure of 6.6% in 2003-04. In 2004-05, Chinese people form the largest minority ethnic group (1.6%), followed by Indian people (1.2%) and Caribbean students form the smallest group (0.08%), followed by Bangladeshi students (0.09%) (where ethnic group is known). Nearly 19,000 students from countries outside Europe study at Scottish institutions and are included in these statistics.

It should be noted that these figures may represent an undercount of the number of students in any of the ethnic groups shown because the number of students for whom ethnic groups is unknown/ not disclosed is fairly high (around 14%).

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)
Note: 1. Numbers include students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions or Further Education Colleges in Scotland.

Publications

Analysis of Ethnicity in the 2001 Census - Summary Report http://www.scotland.gov.uk7ff5ee0f-3801-4607-b42e-2fbe7a66bf2d

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Higher Education Students in Scotland: Age

Since 1994-95, the number of higher education students studying in Scotland has increased across all age groups. The largest increase has been for students aged 50 years and over, more than a four-fold increase from 3,515 in 1994-95 to 15,145 in 2004-05 and this is followed by students aged between 40 and 49 years, who have more than doubled from 15,810 in 1994-95 to 32,630 in 2004-05. As would be expected, the highest proportion (over 50%) of all higher education students are aged 24 years or less, in 2004-05.

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)
Note: 1. Numbers include students on Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions or Further Education Colleges in Scotland.

Publication

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Graduates of Higher Education Courses

Graduates of Higher Education Courses: Age

In 2003-04, there were 65,720 graduates from higher education courses in Scotland. This compares to a figure of 56,940 in 1995-96.

As would be expected, the highest proportion (over 50%) of higher education graduates are aged 24 years or under in 2003-04. This compares to 32% of those aged between 25 and 39 years and 13% aged 40 years and over.

With the exception of those aged between 21 and 24 years, the number of higher education graduates peaked for all age groups in 1999-00. In the period 1995-96 to 2003-04, the number of students graduating has increased for all age groups, with the exception of those aged under 21 years for whom there has been a decrease of 11% from 9,210 to 8,200. During this time the largest proportional increase in graduate numbers has been for those aged 50 years and over, with the number more than doubling from 1,025 to 2,070 (this is likely to reflect the fact that the number of students in this age group has increased most rapidly during this period).

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)

Publication

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Graduates of Higher Education Courses: Disability

The proportion of higher education graduates who are disabled is 5% in 2003-04, compared to 88% who are not disabled. For 7% of graduates, disability status is unknown/ not disclosed. These proportions have remained fairly constant since 2001-02.

Between 2001-02 and 2003-04, the number of disabled graduates has increased by 15% from 2,680 to 3,075. By comparison, the number of non-disabled graduates increased by 4% from 55,545 to 57,980.

It should be noted that these figures may represent an undercount of the number of disabled or non-disabled graduates because of the number of graduates for whom disability status is unknown/ not disclosed is fairly high for each year reported (ranging from 7% to 9%).

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)

Publications

Social Focus on Disability 2004 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/08/19818/41697

Higher Education Graduates And Graduate Destinations 2003-04 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/06121551/15518

Graduates of Higher Education Courses - Subject Area

Graduates of Higher Education Courses - Subject Area: Gender

The number of female graduates from higher education courses is increasing. In 1995-96, 51% of all graduates were female and by 2003-04 this has risen to 57%. For the most part, this is accounted for by the increase in females entering higher education during this time.

In certain subject areas graduates are more likely to be male than female. In 2003-04, 89% of graduates from Engineering and Technology, 76% of graduates from Mathematical Sciences and 75% of graduates from Architecture were male.

Conversely, in other subject areas graduates are more likely to be female than male. In 2003-04, 84% of graduates from Allied Medicine, 73% of graduates from Education, 72% of graduates from Languages, 71% of graduates from Social Studies and 69% of graduates from the Creative Arts were female. The subject areas in which males outnumber females (and vice versa) are virtually the same in 1995-96 and 2003-04.

Graduates from Higher Education Courses in Scotland, by Subject Area and Gender, 1995-96 and 2003-04

Row Percentages & Number

Subject Area	Graduates from Higher Education Courses in Scotland
	1995-96			2003-04
	Percentage of All Graduates		Base	Percentage of All Graduates		Base
	Male	Female		Males	Females
Agriculture	61	39	1,190	41	59	985
Allied Medicine	21	79	3,020	16	84	6,470
Architecture	80	20	2,515	75	25	2,080
Biological Sciences	40	60	2,390	33	67	3,255
Business Administration	42	58	14,035	41	59	13,930
Combined	45	55	3,850	47	53	3,800
Creative Arts	35	65	2,795	31	69	5,135
Education	26	74	3,865	27	73	4,445
Engineering and Technology	88	12	6,780	89	11	5,580
Humanities	48	52	1,335	44	55	1,415
Languages	31	69	1,610	28	72	1,415
Mass Communication	43	57	1,090	40	60	1,305
Mathematical Sciences	72	28	3,235	76	24	4,835
Medicine and Dentistry	49	51	1,065	41	59	1,330
Physical Sciences	63	37	2,090	61	39	1,645
Social Studies	34	66	6,080	29	71	8,100
All Subjects	49	51	n/a	43	57	n/a
Base	27,685	29,260	56,940	28,460	37,265	65,720

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)

Publications

Social Focus on Women and Men 2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sfwm/docs/sfwm-00.asp

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Graduates of Higher Education Courses - Subject Area: Ethnic Group

In 2003-04, just over half of graduates from minority ethnic groups graduated in one of the following three subjects; Business Administration (28.0%), Education (13.5%) or Mass Communication (10.9%).

It should be borne in mind that the proportions outlined below may be underestimated for either combined ethnic group since the ethnic group of graduates was unknown/ not disclosed by a fairly large number of students (10% in 2003-04).

Graduates from Higher Education Courses in Scotland, By Subject Area and Combined Ethnic Group, 2003-04

Column Percentages & Number

Subject Area	Graduates from Higher Education Courses in Scotland
	2003-04
	Percentage of All Graduates			Base
	White Ethnic Groups	Minority Ethnic Groups	Not Known
Agriculture	1.6	0.4	1.0	985
Allied Medicine	10.5	6.9	6.3	6,470
Architecture	3.3	3.0	2.0	2,080
Biological Sciences	5.2	3.9	4.0	3,255
Business Administration	18.9	28.0	34.7	13,930
Combined	8.8	3.7	2.7	5,135
Creative Arts	6.8	3.5	8.8	4,445
Education	8.3	13.5	7.0	5,580
Engineering and Technology	2.2	1.0	2.3	1,415
Humanities	2.1	2.2	2.3	1,415
Languages	2.1	1.6	1.6	1,305
Mass Communication	7.4	10.9	5.0	4,835
Mathematical Sciences	1.9	4.6	1.7	1330
Medicine and Dentistry	5.7	6.0	6.6	3,800
Physical Sciences	2.5	2.1	3.2	1,645
Social Studies	12.8	8.8	10.9	8,100
All Subjects	100.0	100.0	100.0	n/a
Base	54,305	4,560	6,855	65,720

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)

Publications

Analysis of Ethnicity in the 2001 Census - Summary Report http://www.scotland.gov.uk7ff5ee0f-3801-4607-b42e-2fbe7a66bf2d

Students in Higher Education at Scottish Institutions: 2004-05 (Published 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/28100117/0

Age Participation Index ( API)

The Scottish Age Participation Index ( API) for a given year is defined as the number of young Scots aged under 21 who enter a full-time HE course for the first time in that year, taken as a percentage of the population of 17 year olds at 31 December in the same year. In simple terms, it is an estimate of the share of 17 year olds in the population who can be expected to enter HE for the first time before their 21 ^st birthday , if current trends continue.

In 2004-05, the Age Participation Index for Scotland is 46.4. This has declined by 2.5 percentage points since 2003-04. The index had reached 51.5 between 2000 and 2002, before reducing to the current value.

Since the early 1990s participation by women has been higher than by men, for the past few years by around 10 percentage points, with the index for women standing at 51.9.

Components of the index have been calculated by level of study. Initial participation at degree level in 2004-05 is at the same level as in 1999-2000: 27.9. The sub-degree component of the API in 2004-05 is 2.5 points below the value of 1999-2000.

Source: Scottish Executive Lifelong Learning Statistics
Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Funding Council ( SFC)

Publication

The Age Participation Index For Scotland 2004-05 (Published July 2006) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/07155757/0

Enrolments in Further Education Courses

Enrolments in Further Education Courses: Gender

Between 1998-99 and 2004-05, the number of further education enrolments at FE level in Scotland's colleges increased by 18% for females, from 196,295 to 232,465. For males it has increased by 7% for from 154,150 to 165,660. For both males and females, enrolments peaked in 2001-02. Females account for 58% of all enrolments in 2004-05 and correspondingly, males account for 42%.

Source: Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC)
Note: 1. Numbers correspond to enrolments on both Vocational and Non-Vocational Further Education courses at Further Education Colleges.

Publications

Social Focus on Women and Men 2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sfwm/docs/sfwm-00.asp

Lifelong Learning Statistics 2005 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/01155233/52337

Web Links

Scottish Funding Council - Infact Database www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/stats_infact.htm

The Datasets section within the Lifelong Learning statistics website contains further Higher Education analysis http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/lifelong-learning/datasets

Enrolments in Further Education Courses: Age

In 2004-05, the number of further education enrolments at FE level in Scotland's colleges is highest for those aged under 21 years (33%), followed by those aged 50 year and over (18%).

Across all age groups, the number of enrolments peaked in 2001-02 and with the exception of those aged under 21 years, has since decreased year on year for all remaining age groups. Between 1998-99 and 2004-05, the number of enrolments has increased most markedly for those aged 50 years and over, up 72% from 42,460 to 73,215. The number of enrolments has decreased most markedly for those aged between 25 and 29 years, down 13% from 35,485 to 30,790.

Source: Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC)
Note: 1. Numbers correspond to enrolments on both Vocational and Non-Vocational Further Education courses at Further Education Colleges.

Publications

Social Focus on Women and Men 2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sfwm/docs/sfwm-00.asp

Lifelong Learning Statistics 2005 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/01155233/52337

Web Links

Scottish Funding Council - Infact Database www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/stats_infact.htm

The Datasets section within the Lifelong Learning statistics website contains further Higher Education analysis http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/lifelong-learning/datasets

Enrolments in Further Education Courses: Disability

In 2004-05, disabled people account for 9% of all further education enrolments at FE level in Scotland's colleges (where disability status is known/ disclosed) and this compares to 4% in 2000-01. Between 2000-01 and 2004-05 the number of disabled people enrolling at FE level almost doubled, up from 18,645 to 37,130.

It should be noted that these figures may represent an undercount of the number of disabled or non-disabled enrolments because the number of people for whom disability status is unknown/ not disclosed is fairly high for each year reported. The figures reported above may in part be due to the fact that since 2000-01 the number of people whose disability status is unknown/ not disclosed has decreased markedly by 36% i.e. more people may be disclosing their disability status rather than more disabled people entering further education per se.

Source: Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC)
Notes: 1. Numbers correspond to enrolments on both Vocational and Non-Vocational Further Education courses at Further Education Colleges.

Publications

Social Focus on Disability 2004 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/08/19818/41697

Lifelong Learning Statistics 2005 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/01155233/52337

Web Links

Scottish Funding Council - Infact Database www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/stats_infact.htm

The Datasets section within the Lifelong Learning statistics website contains further Higher Education analysis http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/lifelong-learning/datasets

Enrolments in Further Education Courses: Ethnic Group

In 2003-04 and 2004-05, people from minority ethnic groups accounted for 3.90% of all further education enrolments at FE level in Scotland's colleges (where ethnic group is known/ disclosed). In 2004-05, enrolments by people from minority ethnic groups were highest for people in the Other Ethnic Group (0.93%), followed by those in the Pakistani group (0.76%) and those in the African group (0.58%). These proportions were very similar in 2003-04.

It should be noted that these figures may represent an undercount of the number of people in any of the ethnic groups shown here because the number of students for whom ethnic groups is unknown/ not disclosed is around 7% in both reported years.

Source: Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC)
Note: 1. Numbers correspond to enrolments on both Vocational and Non-Vocational Further Education courses at Further Education Colleges.

Publications

Analysis of Ethnicity in the 2001 Census - Summary Report http://www.scotland.gov.uk7ff5ee0f-3801-4607-b42e-2fbe7a66bf2d

Lifelong Learning Statistics 2005 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/01155233/52337

Web Links

Scottish Funding Council - Infact Database www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/stats_infact.htm

The Datasets section within the Lifelong Learning statistics website contains further Higher Education analysis http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/statistics/browse/lifelong-learning/datasets

Financial Support for Learners

HE Student Financial Support: Gender

The Student Award Agency for Scotland ( SAAS) supports Scottish-domiciled higher education students studying in institutions in Scotland and elsewhere and EU-domiciled students studying in Scotland.

In 2004-05, 54% of students supported by SAAS are female (64,995) and 46% are male (55,530). This ratio has remained the same since 1999-00.

Between 1999-00 and 2004-05 the total number of female and male students supported by SAAS has increased by 14% in both cases.

Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS)

Publications

Social Focus on Women and Men 2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/sfwm/docs/sfwm-00.asp

Student Awards In Scotland 2004-05 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/1395648/56490

HE Student Financial Support: Age

In 2004-05, half of all students receiving financial support from SAAS are aged between 18 and 20 years (59,980) and just under a quarter are aged between 21 and 24 years (28,815). Since 1999-00 the age distribution of students receiving financial support has remained approximately the same.

Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS)

Publication

Student Awards In Scotland 2004-05 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/1395648/56490

HE Student Financial Support: Disability

The number of students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance ( DSA) from SAAS has increased almost three fold, from 975 in 1999-00 to 2,775 in 2004-05.

Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS)

Publications

Social Focus on Disability 2004 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/08/19818/41697

Student Awards In Scotland 2004-05 (Published 2005) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/1395648/56490

Education and Religion

Higher Education Statistics Agency ( HESA) and Scottish Further Education Funding Council ( SFEFC) do not collect information about religion group. However a variety of education data are collected on the 2001 Census and can be broken down by religion group. A selection of these data are presented below.

Student Population: Religion

Compared to Christian religion groups in 2001, a higher proportion of people from all non Christian religion groups are full-time students aged 18 and above. Around a fifth (20.6%) people from Another Religion are full-time students aged 18 and above. The Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist populations also have a high proportion of full-time students; 18.2%, 16.0% and 15.6% respectively. By comparison, only 2.5% of people from the Church of Scotland and 4.6% of Roman Catholics are full-time students.

It should, however, be noted that the age distribution of minority ethnic groups (who are more likely to be members of the non-Christian religion groups) tend to be younger than for white ethnic groups and therefore it might be expected that numbers of full-time students in the non-Christian religion groups would be higher.

Source: General Register Office for Scotland ( GROS) - 2001 Census

Publication

Analysis of Religion in the 2001 Census - Summary Report http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20757/53567

Web Site

General Register Office for Scotland ( GROS) http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/

Highest Level Qualification: Religion Group

According to the 2001 Census, of people aged 16 to 74 years, Sikhs were most likely to have no qualifications or qualifications outwith those listed in the Census (42%).

Hindus had by far the highest proportion of degree level qualifications (58%). This was followed by Buddhists with 40% being educated to degree level or above.

The qualification levels of Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic groups were very similar.

It should be noted however that people in the non-Christian religion groups who have recently arrived in Scotland may be more likely to have qualifications outwith those which were listed on the 2001 Census and this may have an effect on the proportions shown below.

Highest Level of Qualification by Religion Group, All People Aged 16-74 Years, Scotland, 2001

Percentage and Number

Current Religion Group	2001
	No Qualifications or Qualifications Outwith These Groups	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4	Base
Church of Scotland	38	25	14	6	16	1,601,665
Roman Catholic	39	24	15	7	16	607,151
Other Christian	25	21	17	7	31	263,520
Buddhist	26	12	15	7	40	6,066
Hindu	14	10	13	5	58	4,589
Jewish	23	15	20	5	37	4,593
Muslim	39	18	14	8	22	28,979
Sikh	42	21	14	7	16	4,668
Another Religion	10	16	30	11	33	23,996
None	25	26	18	8	23	1,022,709
Not Answered	31	26	17	7	19	163,143
All People	33	25	16	7	19	3,731,079

Source: General Register Office for Scotland ( GROS) - 2001 Census
Notes: The 2001 Census defines the highest level of qualification as follows;
Group 1 - 'O' Grade, Standard Grade, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, City and Guilds Craft, SVQ Level 1 or 2 or equivalent.
Group 2 - Higher Grade, CSYS, ONC, OND, City and Guilds Advanced Craft, RSA Advanced Diploma, SVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
Group 3 - HND, HNC, RSA Higher Diploma, SVQ Level 4 or 5 or equivalent.
Group 4 - First Degree, Higher Degree, Professional qualification.

Publication

Analysis of Religion in the 2001 Census - Summary Report http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20757/53567

Web Link

General Register Office for Scotland ( GROS) http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/