Universities UK has commented on the new requirement for HEFCE-funded universities to submit information on their widening participation strategies.

Diana Warwick, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said: "This will give all universities in England an opportunity to demonstrate the enormous range of initiatives and work they are doing to widen access from under-represented groups across the sector.

"The recent NCEE report illustrated the extent to which universities, schools and colleges are working together to raise aspirations and academic attainment among young people. The shared aim is to increase participation in higher education.

"Emerging research confirms what Universities UK has been saying for some time, that the key to widening participation in higher education lies in raising awareness earlier on in the education process and in increasing attainment levels in schools – the earlier the better.

"We are encouraged that the reporting framework will allow universities to reference their own objectives, which will be based on their individual situations. We have said consistently that the current targets and benchmarks - ‘performance indicators’ -  are only partial indicators of change and do not reflect universities’ varying missions and circumstances."

In addition, Diana Warwick commented: "Transparency and fairness of the admissions process is key to ensuring public confidence and we are pleased that the required information on universities' admissions policies recognises universities' autonomy in this area."

Notes

1. For further information on the HEFCE request for information on widening participation, visit: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/wpassess.htm

2. Research by the Teaching and Learning Research Programme suggests that the gap in higher education participation between richer and poorer students is largely explained by the weak academic achievement of poor children in secondary school. The findings suggest that that widening participation in higher education requires intervention well before the point of entry into higher education to increase the attainment of children from poorer backgrounds at earlier ages. For further information on the research, ‘Widening participation in Higher Education: a quantitative analysis’, see: http://www.tlrp.org/proj/wphe/wp_vignoles.html

3. The sector is actively addressing the issue of university admissions through the Delivery Partnership and the Supporting Professionalism in Admissions (SPA) Programme. For further information, visit:  www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/AboutUs/AssociatedOrganisations/Partnerships/

4. Universities UK is supporting a conference (with UCAS, SPA and Guild HE) on 22 January 2009 on ‘Modernising Admissions to HE in a Changing Environment’. For further information, visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Events/

5. SPA (Supporting Professionalism in Admissions) has issued good practice guidance to institutions on the admissions element of the WP strategic assessments. See: http://www.spa.ac.uk/good-practice/admissions-policies.html