Universities play an essential role in supporting people and communities to succeed. For Alliance universities, widening participation activity is integral to their way of working, reflecting their origins in close links to industry and the need to reach out to a more diverse student body. The impact of many universities extends well beyond educating graduates and our institutions consider their strong civic role an essential part of their mission to ensure we can maximise talent and contribute to prosperous places.
But it is not enough to focus on access to higher study alone. Once students have made it to university, we need to keep them there and support them into good careers. The case studies below demonstrate some of the ways our universities are making that happen.
You can read our full report Supporting thriving communities: The role of universities in reducing inequality here.
Collaborative outreach
Coventry University: Stripping out traditional barriers to entry and success
Keeping their doors open wide to students…
Collaborative outreach
Nottingham Trent University: ‘Whole life-cycle’ outreach programme benefits community and students
Widening participation in schools, colleges and the local community…
Creating jobs & business opportunities
University of Huddersfield: Helping students build their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge
Providing advice and training on all aspects of starting up an enterprise…
Creating jobs & business opportunities
Oxford Brookes University: Award-winning social enterprise programme tackles some of the world’s most pressing issues
Helping students, staff and recent graduates who want to set up and run a social enterprise…
Cultural enrichment
University of Huddersfield: Contemporary music festival attracts new audiences and engages local community
Providing a wide range of cultural opportunities for local residents…
Cultural enrichment
The Open University: The Social Partnership Network
Extending higher education opportunities to all those who can benefit…
Cultural enrichment
UWE Bristol: Opening doors to young people in the creative sector
Paid internships creating opportunities for young people to gain critical work experience…
Helping disadvantaged students
Teesside University: Support for refugees and asylum seekers to benefit from higher education
Encouraging under-represented groups to progress in education…
Helping disadvantaged students
Salford University: Pulling down barriers for care leavers and carers
Only 6% of care leavers at the age of 19 progress to university…
Supporting Success
University of Portsmouth: Volunteering is a win-win for students and their local communities
Hundreds of students give their time to help the city and region flourish…
Supporting Success
Oxford Brookes University: Working with BMW Group to offer unique degree opportunity
Students master both business and automotive management subjects with a major employer…
Supporting Success
Sheffield Hallam University: Increasing BME learners studying to become a paramedic
While 14% of the UK population is identified as BME, only 7.4% of paramedics are from BME groups…
Supporting Success
University of South Wales: Combining work with study to improve future employability
Network75 gives undergraduates opportunity to apply knowledge to real-life work situations…
