Access, participation and student success conference 2022

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Overview

Join us on Wednesday 2 November as we bring together leading sector experts to discuss the current and future challenges for improving access, participation and student success in higher education.

We'll be discussing the future of Access and Participation Plans, the impact of the pandemic on post-covid education delivery, handling the cost-of-living crisis and lots more. Keep an eye out for full agenda and speaker announcements soon!

Register now to either join us in-person in London or gain access to a livestream of the plenary sessions (breakout sessions will not be streamed).

Why should you attend?

This one-day conference will provide informative, timely content from the most pertinent speakers on the topic, as well as a wide range of opportunities to network, discuss, and make connections with colleagues within the sector.

You will also be able to access the recordings of the plenary sessions after the event.

If you have any questions about this or any other of our events, please contact us at events@universitiesuk.ac.uk or 07500 441505.

We allow delegates to cancel their bookings up to one month before the event and receive a refund. If this applies to you, please contact us at the email or phone number above.

If you want to stay up to date with our events, news and publications, you can sign up for our newsletters here.

Agenda

10:00

11:40

Opening plenaries

Room: Woburn Hall

10:00

10:10

Welcome and opening remarks

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE, Vice Chancellor, University of Derby

10:10

10:30

Keynote address

Louise Banahene MBE, Director of Educational Engagement, University of Leeds

10:30

11:15

Access and participation: Where are we headed?

Sheree Palmer, Head of Access and Student Success, University of Manchester
Jim Robinson, Assistant Principal, New College Bradford
Sabahat Khan, President, Sheffield Hallam Students’ Union

This session will discuss the current picture of the access and participation agenda in the context of a tumultuous period of politics and media in the UK. Discussion will focus on continuing to move forward post-pandemic to ensure equality of opportunities and outcomes for all.

11:15

11:40

Refreshment break

Room: Tavistock

11:40

12:30

Breakout sessions

Choose one to attend. Breakout sessions are not available to online delegates.

11:40

12:30

Support for care-experienced students to access and participate in higher education

Room: Foster and Bloomsbury

Dr Neil Harrison, Associate Professor in Education and Social Justice, University of Exeter and Trustee, National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL)
Emeli Qerkezi, Student, King’s College London

With many care-experienced young people choosing not to enter higher education, the aim of this session is to discuss how to improve support, increase opportunities and ensure the success of those that do enrol. We will also hear directly from students about their experiences and the support they have received on their journey from application through to approaching graduation.

11:40

12:30

Responding to the increasing demand for university places

Room: Boardroom

Ben Jordan, Head of Policy, UCAS
Rachel Hewitt, Chief Executive, MillionPlus
Amy Smith, Associate Director of Admissions and Student Recruitment, Nottingham Trent University
Chair: Dan Hurley, Assistant Director, Policy, Universities UK

UCAS predicts that by 2026, UK universities will have one million applications. This session will give insights into the journey to million applicants and the impact that this will have on fair access as well as discuss outcomes from the most recent admissions cycle.

11:40

12:30

Driving University of Sunderland’s Student Success Plan: “Write it Right” with Studiosity - an initiative for a widening participation institution

Room: Woburn Hall

Sonya McChristie, Learning Design Manager, University of Sunderland
Lewis McKinnon, Head of Partner Development - UK and Europe, Studiosity

Non-engagement from students should be taken as a major early warning sign. So, what did the University of Sunderland do to drive better engagement and assignment first-time passes, as part of their Student Success Plan 2025?

In this case study, Sonya will share Sunderland's experience of integrating Studiosity into the university's student support services over the past 18 months. From difficulties in making sure Studiosity was available to the selected cohort, to driving adoption with an early-intervention diagnostic activity - "Write it Right" - and finally sharing some early outcomes and impacts, and lessons learned.

Sonya is joined by Lewis McKinnon who will share a range of Studiosity’s university partner learning outcomes and describe how personalised, scalable 24/7 365 student support can normalise help-seeking, improve wellbeing, and develop a sense of belonging for targeted student cohorts.

12:30

13:20

Lunch and networking

Room: Tavistock

13:20

14:10

Breakout sessions

Choose one to attend. Breakout sessions are not available to online delegates.

13:20

14:10

Removing barriers for disabled students

Room: Foster and Bloomsbury

Patrick Johnson, Commissioner, Disabled Students' Commission and Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, The University of Law
Nicola Turner, Senior Fair Access Adviser, UCAS
Nicole Curtin, Employ Autism - Account Manager and Joe Earl, Former Intern Ambitious about Autism
Chair: Myles Hanlon, Policy Researcher, Universities UK

Removing barriers for people with disabilities to access and succeed in higher education required us to think about those unique adjustments that need to be made. This session will reflect on current approaches to support disabled students throughout their higher education journey and will discuss steps to make improvements.

13:20

14:10

Closing ethnicity awarding gaps

Room: Woburn Hall

Kaushika Patel, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, De Montfort University
Denise Morrison, President, London Metropolitan University Students' Union
Tanya Mpofu, PhD Researcher in Corporate Governance, University of Wolverhampton

Three years on from Universities UK’s #ClosingTheGap report, a review on the progress to remove ethnicity degree awarding gaps has taken place. This session draws on the latest evidence and best practice from the sector to have a wider discussion on approaches taken by institutions.

14:10

14:30

Refreshment break

Room: Tavistock

14:30

16:30

Closing plenaries

Room: Woburn Hall

14:30

14:35

Welcome back from the chair

Professor Steve West CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England, and President, Universities UK

14:35

15:15

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on disadvantaged students

Nathalie Podder, Deputy President (Welfare), Imperial College Union
Emma Quirke, Money Advice Manager, Leeds Trinity University and Board Member, NASMA (National Association of Student Money Advisers)
Chris Warrington, Head of Student Support, University of Leeds, and Vice Chair (Professional Development), AMOSSHE
Jenny Shaw, Higher Education External Engagement Director, Unite Students

Financial pressures and difficulties are known to impact students’ studies and their wellbeing, therefore supporting students in the context of the rising cost of living is a key priority for institutions across the country. This session will discuss how we can best support disadvantaged students at this critical time.

15:15

16:05

Supporting students to succeed

Charles Hardy, University Partnerships Lead, Handshake
Daniel Sam, Vice-President, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking UK
Dr Eliza Kozman, Deputy Director, TASO
Ali Orr, Head of Graduate Outcomes and Employability, Kingston University

What does good careers support look like, particularly in the context of a competitive and evolving labour market? This session will focus on supporting graduate outcomes, responding to employers' needs, and delivering targeted and tailored support for disadvantaged students.

16:05

16:25

Keynote address

John Blake, Director for Fair Access and Participation, Office for Students

16:25

16:30

Closing remarks

Professor Steve West CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of the West of England, and President, Universities UK

Who should attend?

This conference will be useful for all university staff who have responsibility for or play a part in student access, participation and success. Possible titles are suggested below, but we encourage anyone interested in the topic to attend:

Access, outreach and widening participation professionals, e.g. officers, managers, heads of departments and directors
Pro-Vice Chancellors and Deans of Education/Students
Other colleagues responsible for areas such as strategic planning; student services; student experience; equality, diversity and inclusion

Sponsorship

We have a range of sponsorship opportunities available at this conference as well as our other events. Please contact Jess Jackson, Marketing and Sponsorships Officer, for more information: jess.jackson@universitiesuk.ac.uk

In partnership with

Studiosity

https://www.studiosity.com/

Book your place now