Widening Participation Strategy. The University of Warwick was among the first of the research-intensive universities to give priority to widening participation and life-long learning and it believes that accessibility remains critical to its developing mission. The University has recently launched an ambitious new Strategy, which intends to locate it in the world’s top 50 universities by 2015. Sustaining an exceptional student experience is a core dimension of the Strategy and the University is aiming to build on a distinctive model of education that has served generations of learners from all socio-economic backgrounds well. The Strategy includes an explicit objective to “enhance the University’s reputation for supporting the participation of all who, regardless of background, prior attainment, age or nationality, have the ability to benefit from its educational opportunities”. This Access Agreement is designed to support that strategic objective.
Widening Participation Strategy. Liverpool Hope University is proud of its record over more than 160 years of offering opportunities to participate in higher education to those who have traditionally been excluded. This central xxxxx of Hope's Mission will continue to be of huge importance as opportunities are offered to students from low participation neighbourhoods in Merseyside and the wider North West, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities. Two of the Key Strategic Goals from the Corporate Plan 2004-2008 encapsulate that philosophy • To continue providing opportunities to enter and succeed in higher education for groups traditionally excluded. • To contribute to increasing participation in Higher Education in Liverpool and Merseyside, particularly though collaboration with FE Colleges and Sixth Form provision in schools and colleges. The Key objectives of the Widening Participation section of the Corporate Plan are as follows:-
Widening Participation Strategy. The college has worked proactively with existing initiatives such as Aimhigher in the region to support a co-ordinated approach to aspiration building and promoting participation amongst under represented groups. The college has also forged effective relationships with both sub regional and regional HEIs to facilitate programme pathways and opportunities for under represented groups. The college works closely with Connexions Services to ensure that young people are fully informed about the range of routes into higher education available to them. Given the relatively good levels of employment within Lincoln and its environs and the debt averse nature of many students, the college also seeks to promote part time study to facilitate the combination of work and higher education. The college also uses a range of activities to encourage programmes within the college from level 3 provision and to those not currently studying at the college. These include three open days per year where advice and guidance sessions are readily available; dedicated open days in conjunction with local partner HEIs; showcasing success through two annual awards ceremonies which includes a formal HE graduation ceremony; peer mentoring opportunities and advice via tutorials on all aspects of student life including financial and fees related information. The college also continues to develop the successful access programme to promote the participation of adult learners predominantly from widening participation postcodes. Most of these students progress to local HEIs as the various pathways on the access programme have been designed to dovetail into locally available undergraduate provision. The college’s use of learner support funds is particularly well used by this student group in order to overcome some of the barriers to full time education such as childcare and travel costs.
Widening Participation Strategy. The success of the College’s Widening Participation Strategy is measured at all levels across the academic infrastructure. Recruitment, retention and achievement are monitored at course level, reflecting individual performance six times per year. This profile is monitored at subject area level in association with the University of Northampton and overall within the College. As part of its widening participation commitment the College actively works in partnership with organisations such as Aimhigher, through delivery within its “Moving On Up” conferences which are designed to increase participation from non-traditional HE entrants, such as those from care, low socio-economic groups or low participation neighbourhoods. Xxxxxxx is also a member of CULN (the Colleges - University of Leicester Network), a regional lifelong learning network, LANDEX (land-based colleges aspiring to excellence) and CULTIVA (an alliance of the country’s five leading land-based colleges); all of which have promotion of widening participation in HE as a strategic principle. The College has provided an outline of the aggregated level of investment from the College for Widening Participation to show the: Direct notional commitment, reflecting bursaries, outreach and other commitments funded via the College HEIFES Indirect allocation for undergraduates funded via the University of Northampton HESA, and outlined in their Widening Participation Strategic Assessment Framework 2009-2012 Pay and non-pay of managing widening participation, reflected in both allocations but not duplicated Pay and non-pay of academic and support staff Commitment of the College to its ethos regarding curriculum delivery Academic infrastructure Full details can be found in the College’s Widening Participation Strategic Assessment 2009-2012 document.
Widening Participation Strategy. One of the key goals of the University’s Corporate Plan 2007-2011 is to “continue efforts to attract students most likely to benefit from higher education from all parts of the UK and beyond, irrespective of their social and economic background”. Liverpool Hope University has a proud history of success in widening participation - it has been a core objective for over 162 years - and it remains committed to providing opportunities for those from historically excluded sectors of the population who have the potential to succeed in higher education. Merseyside still has one of the lowest participation rates in the UK and Liverpool Hope University will contribute to increasing that level of participation through carefully targeted support, including fellowships and scholarships for particular groups of students. This central xxxxx of Hope's Mission will continue to be of huge importance as opportunities are offered to students from low participation neighbourhoods in Merseyside and beyond, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities.
