We want to support students in making the right choice for them, whether that means going to university or not.
We can achieve this by working together with local partners like schools, further education (FE) colleges and other universities to guide young people in their next steps after school with improved information, advice and guidance.
Creating effective progression pathways means being responsive to local needs, especially where more educational opportunities are needed.
We want to build on the success of UniConnect, calling for the establishment of a Tertiary Education Opportunity Fund to incentivise local partnerships between FE colleges, universities, and schools. These local partnerships will take on a more strategic role locally, joining up partners to efficiently improve engagement with young people, better match courses and training with local skills needs (using intelligence from Skills England), and tackle educational cold spots.
University of Hull Future Thinking programme workshop
The Humber Outreach Programme (HOP), the UniConnect partnership for the Humber region, took a fresh approach to the question of how to raise attainment and increase participation in higher education across the region. The Future Thinking programme was co-created with schools specifically for Year eight pupils, particularly focusing on the often-overlooked ‘mid-attainers'. The real innovation comes in using self-regulated learning in the generic themes of careers, pathways and Labour Market Information (LMI), which can be applied across the curriculum, rather than traditional models of maths and literacy.
This approach ensures the programme adds value to stretched school timetables and engages the most underrepresented learners. Feedback and data have been collected from 238 participants, with 92% of pupils feeling that the programme had a positive impact on their study and learning skills.
Nottingham Trent University has a dedicated hub in Mansfield, delivering tailored and flexible courses and training that bring opportunity and prosperity to the area, which has historically been a higher education ‘cold spot’.
NTU Mansfield provides access to alternative routes in higher education, which has previously been a challenge in the community, including in areas critical to the local economy. Students can also access flexible study to work around other commitments.
The Hub offers a wide range of specialist teaching and learning facilities, supporting local people to upskill, retrain and access employment in high-demand areas, such as nursing, paramedicine, engineering, business, criminal justice, education, childhood and community support, and sport and exercise science.
The University of Chichester’s 'From Adversity to University' course provides opportunities to those who face barriers to access higher education, including care-leavers, former homeless, prisoners at an open prison and asylum seekers.
The From Adversity to University initiative revolves around the 12-week Bridging Course – a non-traditional route into higher education that hopes to create equality of opportunity and help students reach their unrecognised potential. The University of Chichester and local homelessness charity Stonepillow joined forces to launch the course in 2019. The course, backed by the Office for Students, utilises the students’ lived experiences to develop academic reading, writing and research skills as well as self-confidence, self-esteem and self-belief.
The university has recently started working with a local open prison to offer educational opportunities to those approaching the end of their sentence.
It is the most fantastic opportunity. It gave me a future, it gave me hope and a chance to turn things around. To be able to achieve something is such a magical feeling.
Philip
Bridging Course graduate and current BA (Hons) Sociology student
One graduate whose life was transformed by the experience is Philip. Five years ago, Philip was homeless, in recovery from addiction and had no formal education. He embarked on the pioneering bridging course at the University of Chichester and has since graduated with a BA (Hons) in Sociology. He's recently started a new role as a recovery co-ordinator for a local drug and alcohol charity and he’ll soon pick up the keys to his new home.
Universities for North East England (UNEE) represents a powerful collective endeavour aimed at broadening collaboration across the region. This partnership, comprising of five universities, has revitalised and solidified their commitment to making higher education more inclusive, ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.
At the heart of their renewed approach is the alignment of their existing collaborative work to widen participation in higher education in the North East and the creation of a unified vision for the future.
UNEE’s vision is clear: a North East region where every individual has the opportunity to access higher education and acquire the skills needed to succeed. This vision is complemented by their mission to work collaboratively as a regional partnership, transforming access and participation for young people. In September 2025, UNEE will launch their new programme of collaborative activity under the name ACCESS – UNEE. This programme will focus on our commitment to breaking down barriers to higher education.
The strengthened collaborative efforts of UNEE, along with their shared vision and mission to improve access, will pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable higher education landscape in North East England.
