Responding to remote, rural and regional tertiary education needs: a conversation between the Australian Regional Education Commissioner and the Scottish Commissioner for Fair Access

Access to tertiary education remains a significant concern for many remote, regional and rural communities. This topic has been explored in the Australian and International Journal of Rural Education since its creation. In February 2024, the Journal went one step further by facilitating a conversation between two policy leaders whose remits include fair access to tertiary education, Ms Fiona Nash, the Australian Regional Education Commissioner and Professor John McKendrick, the Scottish Commissioner for Fair Access. They candidly discussed the importance of responding to tertiary education needs of regional, rural and remote communities from their perspectives. They reviewed a range of complex and compounding issues for remote, regional and rural students in accessing tertiary education in both countries, elaborated on their respective policy contexts.