Universities UK | The voice of UK universities

In recent years the UK higher education sector has made considerable progress in admitting students from under-represented groups. In 2012, however, the sector will be under more pressure than ever before to demonstrate the impact of outreach and access initiatives. In order to do this it is essential that knowledge is shared amongst institutions and with students’ unions about the most effective widening participation tools available.

Universities UK, GuildHE and the NUS therefore hosted a one-day practical workshop exploring how practitioners can approach these issues. The workshop included:

• consider how measurements and data can be shared between institutions
• look at how to use UCAS data to support contextual admissions
• present perspectives from OFFA and HEFCE
• consider how best to use performance indicators
• look at how institutions and students’ unions can work together to devise access agreements

Confirmed speakers included:

• Janet Graham, Director, Supporting Professionalism in Admissions
• Sarah Howls, Head of Widening Participation, HEFCE
• David Barrett, Assistant Director, Office for Fair Access
• Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton
• Usman Ali, Vice President (Higher Education), NUS