STEP launches the National Language Accessibility Promise

On Wednesday 25 March, more than 60 members of the STEP Network came together at Forth Valley College for our seventh STEP Day, and the STEP Network’s third meeting of the 2025-26 academic year. The event blended focused project development work with opportunities for networking and shared learning.

Scotland’s Tertiary Enhancement Programme (STEP) is delivered by CDN and QAA Scotland, and funded by the Scottish Funding Council. STEP drives lasting improvement across colleges and universities through collaboration and innovation. The current cycle of STEP focuses on Supporting Diverse Learner Journeys, highlighting how the sector can better support learners at key transition points.

The day opened with two dynamic project updates that showcased the ambition and impact of work underway across the Network.

The first session, led by the Staff Development project team, explored the staff development landscape needed to support diverse learner journeys across the tertiary sector. Delegates reflected on how staff development features within their own projects and shared insights with peers, reinforcing the vital role of workforce capability and professional learning in supporting increasingly diverse student pathways.

This was followed by a major milestone for the Language Accessibility Promise project team, who officially launched their new sector-wide pledge – the first significant output of a STEP project.

The Language Accessibility Promise is now open to institutions across Scotland’s tertiary sector, backed by several colleges and universities and supported by the Scottish Funding Council.

By signing the Promise, institutions commit to using clear, simple and accessible language in student-facing communications and embedding these principles across organisational practice. The initiative aims to improve access to education, enhance the quality of the student experience, and strengthen students’ sense of belonging.

The Promise has been designed to be light touch and to become part of business as usual rather than create additional work. Participating institutions commit to reviewing 20 per cent of student-facing documents within two years of signing and 50 per cent within five years.

Institutions signing the Promise agree to communicate directly, clearly and honestly; assume no prior knowledge and avoid acronyms, initialisms and unnecessary abbreviations; offer information in a range of accessible formats; use technical terms only where necessary; and demonstrate compassion, consideration and understanding of students’ needs and experiences in all communications.

The STEP Steering Group has endorsed the Promise and institutions across the sector are encouraged to sign.

“We’re delighted with the overwhelming support we have received from across colleges, universities and sector agencies – this is real recognition that we can all create a more inclusive environment for both students and staff through the use of accessible language,” said Xander McDade, Language Accessibility Promise Project Lead.

Throughout the day, project teams worked together to progress their initiatives, sharing expertise and tackling common challenges in a supportive, solutions-focused environment.

Another highlight of STEP Seven was the introduction of Project Speed Networking – a fast-paced, interactive session designed to spark new connections across the Network. Delegates exchanged ideas, discovered synergies between projects, and built relationships in an energising format that injected fresh momentum into cross-sector collaboration.

Dedicated networking time also allowed members to deepen conversations, strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities to work together.

For more information or to sign up to the Language Accessibility Promise, please contact info@step.ac.uk.

Submit your programme proposal by 10 April, for Stepping Over the Threshold: Belonging and Inclusion in Scotland’s Tertiary Sector, taking place on 27 May 2026 at Glasgow Caledonian University. Join students, staff and sector partners to explore belonging, inclusion and transitions across tertiary education.