Student Recruitment and Widening Participation The University of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Student Recruitment and Widening Participation The University of Manchester Bernard Strutt & Stephanie Lee Bernard.strutt@manchester.ac.uk / 0161 275 8569 Widening Participation at Stephanie.Lee@manchester.ac.uk / 0161 275 7544 The University of Manchester Stephanie Lee Head of Widening Participation and Outreach Stephanie.Lee@manchester.ac.uk 0161 275 7544

Overview 1. National context and drivers 2. Evolution of widening participation at UoM 3. Case studies 4. Challenges and Opportunities 5. Future priorities 6. Questions

What is widening participation? “it is a broad expression that covers many aspects of participation in higher education (HE), including fair access and social mobility . It relates to the whole 'life- cycle' of a student , from pre-entry, through admission, study support and successful completion at undergraduate level, to progress on to further study or employment.” HEFCE

National Context • More students from disadvantaged backgrounds progressing into HE than ever before – but less progress when look at selective institutions; • Shift in funding for widening participation activity – from government to universities; • Access Agreement – reinvestment of tuition fee income across the student lifecycle; • Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF); • Changing demographics – decline in the number of 18 year olds and; • Changing recruitment and selection behaviours of universities – e.g. unconditional offers

Higher Education Growth in UK Applicants by domicile group 2006-2016 Source: UCAS End of Cycle Report 2016

Difference in application rates between WP and non WP students Entry rates for English 18 year olds by multiple equality measure groups (group 5 = most likely to enter to HE) Entry rates for English 18 year olds by multiple equality measure groups to higher tariff providers Source: UCAS End of Cycle Report 2016

Under-representation in UK HE OFFA (Office for Fair Access) target groups: • low income backgrounds – below £25k p.a. • lower socio-economic groups • low participation neighbourhoods • white males from economically disadvantaged backgrounds • Black and minority ethnic groups • disabled people • mature and part-time learners • care leavers • carers • people estranged from their families • people from gypsy and Traveller communities. • refugees • people with mental health problems, Specific Learning Difficulties, and/or who are on the autism spectrum.

Why the University does WP • Embedded within Core Goals and KPIs • Championed by senior leaders • ‘No boundaries, no barriers’ - an institution accessible to all regardless of background • Diversity of student population • Diversity of academia • Societal benefits • Statutory requirements – all institutions charging higher fees (£6k - £9k) are required to have an Access Agreement with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA)

Sutton Trust, Leading People 2016

Access Agreement investment 2017/18 Access Agreement planned expenditure 2017/18 Access Agreement expenditure as % of higher fee income (UG Home) i.e. income above £6k

Development of WP at UoM • Increased resource – staff and non-staff – From a team of 3 in 2003 to c.20 in 2017 • Increase in geographical reach – local to national • Reactive to proactive • From one-off activities to programmes • Embedded in processes e.g. within admissions, in Academic Departments, Cultural Institutions and Students’ Union • Improved data collection and recording – more evidence to determine impact • Evolution of language – widening participation /widening access

Student Recruitment & WP across the institution Faculties and Schools Cultural Institutions Directorate for the and University Student Experience Library (DSE) Students Student Union and Recruitment current and External students Widening organisations Participation – other HEIs, 3 rd sector, businesses

Widening Participation Data WP trends - new Undergraduate entrants

Progression Framework Student financial Access Manchester support Phase 4 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Responsible Outstanding Successful Outreach: Outreach: Fair learning and Graduates Pre-16 post-16 Admissions student experience Student Greater Contextual Experience Manchester Data Internships Higher

Case Studies • Manchester Gateways Programme • School Governor Initiative • Manchester Access Programme

The Manchester Gateways Programme • Pre-16 programme for Greater Manchester • Progression Framework • School and learner targeting • Use of PhD students in delivery • Involvement of University’s cultural institutions in the delivery – Manchester Museum • 31% of pupils from areas of low participation – this is compared with 7.5% of UoM’s entrants in 2015. • 81% of participants say they are more likely to consider going to university.

School Governor Initiative • Increase the number of staff volunteering as School Governors (parent, LA, Community etc) • Support current Governors through: – Staff Network – HR Policy – Annual Conference • Network membership 520 (170 staff, 350 alumni) • http://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/umsgi • Benefits – Contributing to improvement of schools and colleges; – Engagement with schools and colleges – governors equipped with key messages; – Development and awareness of staff.

Manchester Access Programme • To support the progression of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into UoM or other research- intensive institutions. • Between 2005 and 2016, over 1600 students have entered UoM through MAP. • Students that complete MAP are made an offer which is equivalent of 2 grades lower e.g. AAA becomes ABB • MAP students 3 times more likely to be from a low socio-economic group and 2.5 times more likely to be from a low-income household. • Retention of MAP students better than the University average. • Developing a distance access scheme to reach students nationally.

On the horizon and future priorities • General election! • Internal Review of Access Agreement expenditure • HE and Research Bill and activities – introduction of the TEF • Universities’ role in and differentiated fees raising school attainment (from 2020) • Strengthening use of – formation of the Office contextual data? for Students (merging • Addressing gaps in HEFCE and OFFA) attainment of UG • School sponsorship? students • Widening access to PG study

Institution buy-in Monitoring Evidence- & led Evaluation Student Voice Use of Stakeholder best engagement practice Collaborate Ingredients for success

Questions? Questions?

Useful links • UoM Access Agreement with the Office for Fair Access http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=29548 • UoM Annual Report on WP http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=4294 • UoM Schools and Colleges Pages http://www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/schoolsandcolleges/ • UoM Use of Contextual Data http://www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/howtoapply/afteryouapply/assessm ent/contextual-data/ • HEFCE Outreach Resource Pool http://outreachpool.hefce.ac.uk/s/search.html?collection=outreach • HEFCE Student Access and Success http://www.hefce.ac.uk/sas/ • Office For Fair Access http://www.offa.org.uk/