Core to University Mission and Beacon of Excellence

We will …

Ensure that widening participation and social mobility are core to the University’s mission and aspire to be a beacon of excellence in the sector

We will achieve this by …

• Putting the Widening Participation Strategy in place
• Ensuring that widening participation is central to core University and departmental priorities and connects with other related strategies
• Establishing ambitious targets for widening participation categories, including State Schools, Low Socio-Economic Class, Low Participation Neighbourhoods, Mature, Low performing schools, Local entrants, and BAME entrants
• Championing our widening participation approach internally and externally

 

Case study: Warwick Bright Stars Programme The Warwick Bright Stars programme is the University of Warwick primary schools outreach programme which is in its fourth year. The programme supports over five hundred year 5 and 6 (age 9-11) pupils in the Coventry and Warwickshire areas each year. The activities are delivered by a group of trained student ambassadors who are studying at Warwick and have an interest in Education or in developing teaching skills. Read more ...

Targeted and Lifecycle Approach (Outreach, Access, Retention, Success, Progression)

We will …

Adopt a targeted and evidence-based ‘lifecycle’ approach to widening participation for the benefit of all our students

We will achieve this by …

• Ensuring that our progress against Widening Participation targets are evidence-based
• Ensuring that provision is underpinned by robust evaluation and research-led practice at the forefront of national policy
• Equipping departments with specific data that promotes evidence based approaches
• Widening demand and increasing support to facilitate a talent pipeline for widening participation target groups
• Accelerating access to Warwick for students from a range of widening participation backgrounds
• Improving student retention (non-continuation rates) and success (good honours) for widening participation targeted groups
• Enhancing progression in further study and employment (DLHE / Graduate Outcomes) for widening participation groups
• Enhancing opportunities for target groups in the region to access and progress to higher education

 

Priorities 2018/19: Embedding a lifecycle approach to Widening Participation We will seek to make Warwick sector-leading in our approach to Widening Participation (WP), supporting students across their HE journey; from initial outreach for aspiration-raising and attainment, to ensuring access for Warwick programmes, success in closing attainment gaps in graduate outcomes, and progression to further study and employment. Work in 2018/19 will include: consultation and launch of our new WP Strategy; developing research and evaluation capability for WP programmes; agreeing ambitious WP targets; enhancing coordination with faculties on WP activities; initiating a life-cycle and cross-institutional Warwick Access and Mobility Programme; and opening an IntoUniversity centre in Coventry. Read more about our priorities for 2018/19 ...

Governance Structures and Coordination

We will …

Adopt a holistic and embedded institutional approach to widening participation across all levels of the University

We will achieve this by …

• Developing the Widening Participation Committee and establishing complementary governance structures and coordination mechanisms to facilitate the delivery of the Widening Participation Strategy
• Establishing a Widening Participation Evaluation and Research Working Group
• Establishing Steering Group and Faculty Operational Groups
• Resourcing of Faculty and Departmental widening participation structures

 

Case study: Widening Research and Participation (wrap) Project The Widening Research and Participation (wrap) project is a 2-year research project at the University of Warwick, investigating the availability and accessibility of undergraduate research opportunities in which Warwick students can participate. The research team comprises two postgraduate and two undergraduate students supervised and supported by the Research Development Manager and URSS co-ordinator. The project is funded by Warwick’s Widening Participation Development Fund. Read more ...