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Please check this webpage later for access to notes, insights and presentations from the conference sessions.

Any Questions?

Please email wpfacultycoords@warwick.ac.uk

Session One: 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Workshop A - Inclusive Recruitment of Student Staff Link opens in a new window

This session will be led by staff and students from the Student Experience Team.

This workshop will look at diving into what barriers WP students face, thinking about how we can make the recruitment process more inclusive and what actions we can take or encourage the university to take in order to help with those barriers.

Workshop B - Demystifying Neurodiversity and Reasonable AdjustmentsLink opens in a new window

Join colleagues from the Disability Team for an insightful session to explore the nuances of neurodiversity and the importance of implementing reasonable adjustments to create an inclusive environment across the university. Acquire a deeper understanding of a range of diverse cognitive styles, practical strategies for support, how reasonable adjustments are agreed upon and put in place, and how this helps to create an environment where disabled students can thrive. Meet with colleagues across the university to explore the fascinating world of neurodiversity and learn how reasonable adjustments make such a difference in empowering disabled students at Warwick.

Workshop C - ThinkHigher BLCK Space JourneyLink opens in a new window

The ThinkHigher BLCK Space programme has grown from a research project with Professor Jason Arday in 2021 to two successful pilot projects with pre and post-16 pupils in 2023 into a brand new attainment-raising project working with Black and mixed Black heritage pupils in two local schools.

In this fun and interactive workshop, we will explore the evolution of the programme, the impacts on the participants (with post-16 participants sharing their experiences in person) and the barriers to narrowing the Black Achievement Gap to generate more equitable outcomes.

WP Insights (1 and 2) - ''Empowerment through Engagement”: My WP Journey and the Path Forward at Warwick and Social Mobility Student Research Hub

These two twenty-minute sessions will explore the following:

''Empowerment through Engagement”: My WP Journey and the Path Forward at Warwick'Link opens in a new window

Join us for a personal exploration of life as a WP student at Warwick. This session narrates the impactful journey of navigating university life on a full bursary, sharing not just the challenges and triumphs but also the late-discovered yet life-altering WP opportunities. Hear first-hand accounts from multiple WP bursary recipients, discover the unity fostered through the Warwick Participation Student Network (WPSN) events, and understand what student success truly entails from our diverse perspectives. This narrative aims to inspire and guide new WP students to engage early and fully with the wealth of support available, ensuring they too are not solitary sojourners in their academic voyage.

Social Mobility Student Research HubLink opens in a new window

The Social Mobility Student Research Hub (SMSRH) is a programme that has funded over thirty undergraduate (UG) and post-graduate taught (PGT) students from under-represented groups to conduct research in a range of Widening Participation (WP) themes these last two years. Members of the SMSRH team, including PhD students who mentored student researchers, and staff from the WP team discuss how they developed and implemented the programme. Key outcomes, impacts and outputs from the programme are discussed, including examples of research projects that students developed and shared with decision makers to highlight issues related to student experience and success, such as challenges affecting inclusivity, impostor syndrome, and belonging.

Session Two: 11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Workshop D - Co-creating student support: A WP perspective on Personal TutoringLink opens in a new window

Over the last year, the Dean of Students Office has been working in collaboration with students to develop inclusive Personal Tutor training resources.

In this interactive workshop, you will hear from some of those students as we:

• Consider the role of Personal Tutors in supporting student success

• Share co-creation work led by traditionally underrepresented student groups

• Explore what it means to have a WP student identity

• Discuss how Personal Tutors can best support students from WP backgrounds

The workshop will engage participants to reflect on their own experiences and share successes and challenges.

Workshop E - Foundation Year Experience - raising aspirations both within and beyond Warwick Business SchoolLink opens in a new window

We are pleased to share the amazing things our Foundation Year students at WBS do. In this session, both existing and former Foundation Year students will share their lived experiences, including the highs and lows of the Foundation Year as well as their transition into direct entry.

WP Insights (3 and 4)-The Walk of Shame: Measuring Success from My Council Estate Room and Supporting Students Pre-entry and How You Can Be Involved

These two twenty-minute sessions will explore the following:

The Walk of Shame: Measuring Success from My Council Estate RoomLink opens in a new window

Success translates to different outcomes depending on the person. For many students from widening participation backgrounds, there is added pressure on the outcomes of success. Through testimonials and lived experiences, we will be exploring what student success means to us.

Supporting Students Pre-entry and How You Can Be InvolvedLink opens in a new window

Providing a short presentation about the work and initiatives of the WP team and how students and academics can be more involved, including signposting in the direction of Experience Warwick, Mentoring programmes & Summer Schools.

WP Insights (5 and 6) - TeamWork Student Success Stories - shared by our students and Mentoring: The dynamic nature of community creation

These two twenty-minute sessions will explore the following:

TeamWork Student Success Stories - shared by our studentsLink opens in a new window

Join us to hear more about Warwick's leading TeamWork student online international experience programme - as seen through our students' lived experiences navigating the virtual, global world of work and the many benefits this offers.

Mentoring: The dynamic nature of community creationLink opens in a new window

Mentoring is constantly looked at as a senior person passing their knowledge onto a junior. This makes sense hypothetically, but what I will show in this session is that mentoring isn’t just about the passing of knowledge but it should be focused around the creation of a dynamic two way relationship in which there is development and growth from both sides. This growth should not be limited to this one relationship but be the seed which grows and leads to the creation of a community, one that allows people to Access, Thrive and Drive change.

Session Three: 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Workshop F - Walk A Mile in My Shoes - A WP journeyLink opens in a new window

This session will be led by members of the Widening Participation Team.

A discussion based session focusing on the academic journey of a WP student and the range of barriers that are faced.

Workshop G - Levelling the careers playing field through embedded employabilityLink opens in a new window

This session will be led by the Student Opportunity-Careers Team.

The competitive graduate labour market demands early development of employability skills and experiences needed for high-quality career outcomes. However, lack of awareness around careers coupled with packed timetables hinders engagement in careers activities, particularly for WP students. Embedding careers into academic departments and the curriculum ensures timely exposure to careers education, empowering students to act sooner. This session shares strategies from departments taking this approach and explores what we need to embed to ensure all students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and access to the opportunities they need to embark on exciting careers regardless of their starting point.

WP Insight (7 and 8) - You Are What You Think and Supporting Independent Students who are Care Leavers or Estranged

These two twenty-minute sessions will explore the following:

You Are What You Think Link opens in a new window

“You are no more than what you believe about yourself, your abilities and the life you can attain”. This student-led presentation stresses the importance of self-perception in student success and attainment in life. It exposes the overlooked influence of self-perception on our ability to succeed. Where we typically derive our self-awareness from (situational background, family, socioeconomic status etc). And how we release ourselves from the constraints of those origins and establish new ties with updated versions of ourselves and our abilities, allowing us to pursue and achieve the fullness of our potential and take hold of all life has to offer.

Supporting Independent Students who are Care Leavers or EstrangedLink opens in a new window

This session will give a brief insight into the WP team's work supporting applicants, offer holders and current students who have left a care background or are estranged from their parents/family. We will cover some of the challenges these students may face and how we, as a University, can support them.

WP Insight (9 and 10) - Developing skills, confidence, agency and resilience for student success and Short Term Mobility - international opportunities for all students

These two twenty-minute sessions will explore the following:

Developing skills, confidence, agency and resilience for student successLink opens in a new window

The Skills team helps students develop their employability and personal skills to support their long-term success. This presentation focuses on the Thrive women’s personal development programme and the Warwick Award carers pathway, which recognises the employability skills gained by students with caring responsibilities.

Thrive helps students build confidence, assertiveness and resilience through training, mentoring and a community of support, with strong engagement from WP students. A bespoke version of Thrive for Warwick Scholars is in development. The carers’ pathway was developed to help students recognise and articulate the valuable skills they gain through parental or other caring responsibilities.

Short Term Mobility - international opportunities for all studentsLink opens in a new window

Discover how Student Mobility are working to enable all students, irrelevant of background, to engage in an international experience during their time at Warwick. This includes activities arranged by Warwick, such as the fully funded Faculty of Arts Easter programme taking place in 2024, maximising the use of government Turing Scheme funding which can provide significant financial support towards self-sought opportunities, as well as broadening the short-term programme offering to include international study, work and volunteering opportunities.