• Celebrating the rise of overall demand for higher education during the coronavirus pandemic and a record number of 18-year olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds being accepted into university
• Continuing to close the gap for university admissions between the most advantaged and disadvantaged areas
• Tackling the tendency of disadvantaged students to ‘under-match’ and enter courses below their ability
• Moving away from predicted grades in order to combat low aspiration and unfairness
• Addressing the practicalities and consequences of moving to a post-qualification university admissions system

• Embedding good practice across access and participation efforts across universities
• Introducing the right regulatory incentives to support institutions in delivering transformational change
• Developing a joined-up approach to tackling inequality throughout the education system
• Committing to key principles of good practice: evaluation, collaboration, senior accountability, transparency in admissions and developing initiatives with students, parents, teachers and other education experts
• Examples of how a joined-up approach would better support key groups of students

I will provide the student perspective on higher education and its appeals, limitations, and implications for the newer generations. As newer generations try to grapple with the capitalist world, the true meaning of education has been questioned. Understanding why this has happened requires a student perspective that I will aim to discuss as best as I can.

• Developing a new widening participation department and strategy with evidence and evaluation at its heart
• Working towards a culture of reflexive practice
• Embedding a ‘pracademic’ approach to widening participation activity
• Challenging received wisdom in the widening participation space – the quest for what works, but also why, how and in what contexts
• Proposed outputs and outcomes

• Signing up to the Stand Alone Pledge to develop support for estranged students in higher education
• Committing to supporting students lacking a family network
• Reaching out to students who were previously under-represented in widening participation initiatives and three times more likely to drop out of higher education
• Focusing on the four key areas that estranged students need the most support – finance, accommodation, mental health and wellbeing and outreach and transition
• Introducing personalised support for each student and a single point of contact

• Creating excellence and opportunity through a focused Strategic Framework
• Addressing barriers to access and student success through innovative and inclusive activities 
• Establishing targeted programmes to increase the percentage of young and mature undergraduate entrants from under-represented groups 
• Taking a collaborative approach to improve prosperity for everyone in our city, county and region

  
  

• Addressing the barriers to access experienced by mature students
• Preparing people who have been out of education for a long time to start undergraduate degree study
• Equipping student with essential skills such as critical reading, analytical thinking, library research and academic writing
• Delivering the programme with a dedicated teaching and administration team resulting in a significant increase in recruitment, retention and attainment of students
• Providing flexibility in course delivery with regular, accelerated and intensive courses and flexible learning

• Taking a strategic approach to inclusive digital planning across the organisation
• Developing inclusive technology to meet the needs of students from all backgrounds
• Using digital choice to recruit and improve the experience for under-represented learners
• Promoting digital confidence, independence, employability, and positive digital wellbeing
• Enabling differentiated teaching and assessment and a flexible, responsive curriculum