Participation strategy
We believe that everyone with the potential to benefit from higher education should have the opportunity to do so, whatever their background. Taking on the challenge of widening access and participation is a crucial part of our mission.
UWE Widening Participation Strategy
UWE has been conducting and continuing to develop a Widening Participation Strategy since 2004. The strategy encompasses all sectors of the student journey and can be broken down into four strands:-
- Pre-entry - aspiration and awareness raising, as well as improving attainment.
- Access and admissions - application support and enhance admissions procedures.
- Retention and success - higher education preparation and transition, induction and social integration; learning, teaching and curriculum development; student support.
- Enhancing employability - equipping students with the experience and skills to progress to employment, further learning on completion of their higher education studies.
Each of our five faculties has put in place a Widening Participation Action Plan. Each Plan identifies key objectives and sets out targets for increasing student diversity.
For more information download the full Widening Participation Strategy document.
Widening participation programme
In the 2008/09 academic year UWE worked with 37,000 people in areas with low HE participation rates. We will continue to reach as many people as we can in under-represented groups and communities and encourage the consideration of HE as an achievable and worthwhile option.
Student outreach
One of UWE’s major successes has been the mobilisation of our student body to reach out into communities. In 2008/09 600 undergraduates contributed 28,000 hours to support learning and raise aspirations of young people.
Trust schools and academies
Our commitment to supporting the development of trust schools and academies in the locality is nationally recognised. UWE Bristol has been actively engaged in academy sponsorship since 2002 when it became the first university to sponsor an academy (City Academy, Bristol).
Heading Higher Passport Scheme
Launched in 2005 this Scheme has now become a comprehensive programme of activities and events at schools and colleges in our region. It is aimed at securing an increase in applications from under-represented groups. In 2008/09 we had 380 students accepted through the Scheme, 6.4% of all applicants accepted at UWE.
UWE Federation
The UWE Federation is a group of 11 partner colleges around our region offering 36 programmes of study giving students local access to quality-assured HE courses. We see the development of foundation degrees as a particularly strong vehicle for increasing access and widening participation.
Retention and employability
We are fully aware that recruitment is only the start of the student journey. We have invested heavily in our Student Experience Programme to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the same chance of success.
Our employability strategy explicitly addresses the needs of under-represented groups in our student body, and in particular those facing disadvantage in the labour market.
Widening Participation recognition
Xcel Best Institution of Widening Participation 2009
UWE Bristol has been named as the Xcel Best Institution of Widening Participation 2009. We have received the award in recognition of the work we have done in supporting the learning and raising the aspirations of young people and adults from a multi-ethnic and minority group background. Our work has been judged to combine excellence with impact.
Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education
We have been awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education. The Quality Mark commits us to providing a high level of support for care leavers that starts well before they arrive and continues throughout their time at the University.
Page last updated 11 August 2011