The conference held on Wednesday 8^th March 2023, was the second joint annual event between the Widening Participation Staff and Student Networks and this year was themed as Student Voice: A Widening Participation Perspective. It was designed to allow members to come together as peers and discuss issues relating to Widening Participation at the University of Warwick. The conference provided an opportunity and platform for staff and students to share ideas and discuss student voice as a cross-cutting theme across the whole institution, bringing together academic and professional service colleagues and students.

It was fantastic to see contributions from the School of Modern Languages, including a session co-led by Orla Whelan Davis (SMLC Widening Participation Officer) and team of student network coordinators, as below:

'The SMLC were pleased to be able to contribute to this year’s Widening Participation Conference on 8 March on Student Voice. This conference is a great opportunity for students and staff to share ideas, initiatives and best practice on the challenges faced by students from WP backgrounds. Orla Whelan Davis SMLC WP Officer was joined by 4 SMLC students to present in one of the insight sessions on “Responding to Student Voice through the SMLC WP student network coordinators”. We explained how as part of our school’s inclusion plan, we recruited students to manage 4 separate networks for; WP students, Black students, Disabled students and LGBTQ+ students with the goal to listen and respond to student voice in order to make SMLC a more inclusive space. The students very much enjoyed talking about their motivations and work to date and we were also inspired to hear from the Philosophy Department with whom we shared the session, on their Black Voices Network.'

There were also conference sessions led independently by students from the Faculty of Arts, including Jada Small (School of Modern Languages and Cultures) on 'Adjusting to living in the unknown' and Elizabeth Fagbolagun (Liberal Arts) on 'Finding your voice as an Ethnic Minority Student.'

Elizabeth has said 'Having the opportunity to present...at the WP Conference reminded me of the value of my voice and my experience, especially in an age where that isn't always sought. It was also extremely encouraging to see how intrigued people were in what I had said, as spoke to me afterwards.'

If you would like some more information about Widening Participation at the University of Warwick:

- Students: please visit our Widening Participation Student Network webpages and sign up for more information.

- Staff: please visit our Widening Participation Staff Network webpages

- Faculty of Arts: if you are a member of staff within the Faculty of Arts and would like to find out more please contact Victoria Hill, Widening Participation Faculty Coordinator (v.hill.1@warwick.ac.uk)