Common use of Collaborative working between institutions Clause in Contracts

Collaborative working between institutions. 4.4.1 QMUL understands the impact of well-targeted collaborative work with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other external partners. We are a partner in Advancing Access, a national collaboration of 24 selective universities. Through this collaboration we work with schools and colleges to develop and deliver continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers and advisors that supports student progression to selective universities and courses. Advancing Access has a particular focus on schools with low levels of progression to such universities. We deliver the majority of CPD events and resources online to allow easy access for all schools, regardless of their location. Advancing Access complements the work already carried out at QMUL and other partner institutions by engaging those areas that have historically been hard to reach and may be in geographic ‘cold spots’. It is a cost-effective approach to equipping teachers and advisors with the information they need to advise students with confidence. Initially funded through HEFCE’s collaborative outreach network scheme, further funding options are currently being explored. 4.4.2 The University of Warwick and QMUL entered into a collaborative agreement in 2012, and a substantial branch of this partnership is widening participation. Both institutions’ outreach teams are continuing to share good practice and draw on experience of working to widen participation in two quite different geographical areas to enhance and strengthen existing initiatives and approaches. Following successful evaluation of our collaborative summer school we have continued to deliver a five-day residential summer school split across both institutions’ campuses. Maintaining a focus on medicine and health pathways, this collaborative event allows participants to understand better different subject and career options as well as exposing these participants, who will be likely to consider only local universities, to a different region and the idea of geographical mobility. QMUL and the University of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will continue jointly to evaluate all collaborative activities to ensure that plans for activity in 2017-18 are evidence-based. 4.4.3 We will continue to commit resources to collaborative work with charities and other external organisations involved in widening participation and access. This includes partnerships with organisations such as the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust, and work with groups such as Into University, a well established programme that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress to higher education. We will continue to work in partnership with the Brilliant Club, which recruits, trains and places PhD students in non-selective state schools and sixth-form colleges serving low-participation communities. We will also support the Barts Cancer Institute and their collaboration with the Access Work Placements Project, to embed their week-long summer school programme, giving Year 12 students first-hand experience of medical research. 4.4.4 QMUL has previously held the Buttle UK Quality Mark for supporting the progression to higher education of young people who have been in care and care leavers. Having played an active role in local and national networks since 2013, we will continue to work in collaboration with national bodies such as the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers, and across London with Local Authorities, HEIs and other relevant organisations. 4.4.5 We are part of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Widening Participation Association, which has provided a forum for collaborative work across these highly selective institutions for many years. As well as providing peer support for senior widening participation staff, the group plans and delivers collaborative activity including the biennial Teachers’ Conference and practitioner networks. 4.4.6 Widening Participation leads from the colleges of the University of London meet once a term to share best practice and focus on common issues. In 2016, the group agreed to share project-outcome data to enable colleagues to benchmark the performance of their suite of activities. This recognises the importance not just of evaluating activity internally, but also of benchmarking across the sector. Initial data-sharing will begin in the summer of 2016, looking at outcomes for summer schools and multi-intervention projects. The results will inform QMUL’s future strategic planning.

Collaborative working between institutions. 4.4.1 5.5.1 QMUL understands the impact of well-targeted collaborative work with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other external partners. We are a partner in Advancing Access, a national collaboration of 24 selective universities. Through this collaboration we work with schools and colleges to develop and deliver continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers and advisors that supports student progression to selective universities and courses. Advancing Access has a particular focus on schools with low levels of progression to such universities. We deliver the majority of CPD events and resources online to allow easy access for all schools, regardless of their location. Advancing Access complements the work already carried out at QMUL and other partner institutions by engaging those areas that have historically been hard to reach and may be in geographic ‘cold spots’. It is a cost-effective approach to equipping teachers and advisors with the information they need to advise students with confidence. Initially funded through HEFCE’s collaborative outreach network scheme, further funding options are currently being explored. 4.4.2 5.5.2 QMUL is not currently a member of the National Collaborative Outreach Programme, but complements its work through a significant programme of outreach work in four of the thirteen target London wards. In particular, we are a sponsor of the Drapers’ MAT in Havering, which has schools in one of the target wards. We offer substantial support to all the schools in the MAT, through primary and secondary outreach activities and governance support (there are three QMUL-appointed governors on the Governing Board of the Drapers’ Academy, which is an NCOP target school). QMUL’s Head of Widening Participation has met with a representative of the London NCOP to discuss QMUL’s work in the target areas, and to ensure that any new work complements rather than duplicates what is already taking place. 5.5.3 The University of Warwick and QMUL entered into a collaborative agreement in 2012, and a substantial branch of this partnership is widening participation. Both institutions’ outreach teams are continuing to share good practice and draw on experience of working to widen participation in two quite different geographical areas to enhance and strengthen existing initiatives and approaches. Following successful evaluation of our collaborative summer school we have continued to deliver a five-day residential summer school split across both institutions’ campuses. Maintaining a focus on medicine and health pathways, this collaborative event allows participants to understand better different subject and career options as well as exposing these participants, who will be likely to consider only local universities, to a different region and the idea of geographical mobility. QMUL and the University of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Warwick will continue jointly to evaluate all collaborative activities to ensure that plans for activity in 20172018-18 19 are evidence-based. 4.4.3 5.5.4 We will continue to commit resources to collaborative work with charities and other external organisations involved in widening participation and access. This includes partnerships a partnership with organisations such as the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust, which involves the delivery of a two-year Pathways to Coding initiative, supporting students interested in coding throughout Year 12 and 13. The programme constitutes a mix of sessions with both an academic and a careers focus, incorporating taster sessions, a residential hackathon, e- mentoring with current students and talks from interesting industry figures and academics. We also collaborate with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust on the Pathways to Law programme. We continue to work with groups such as Into University, a well well- established programme that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress to higher education. We will continue to work in partnership with the Brilliant Club, which recruits, trains and places PhD students in non-selective state schools and sixth-form colleges serving low-participation communities. We will also support the Barts Cancer Institute and their collaboration with the Access Work Placements Project, to embed their week-long summer school programme, giving Year 12 students first-hand experience of medical research. 4.4.4 QMUL has previously held the Buttle UK Quality Mark for supporting 5.5.5 Collaboration is an important component of work to support the progression to higher education of young people who have been in care and care leavers. Having played , and we play an active role in local and national networks since 2013, we will continue to work in collaboration with national bodies such as the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers. A member of QMUL staff is Co-Chair of the National Strategy Group, and across London with Local Authorities, HEIs we provide support through engagement in conferences and other relevant organisationsmeetings and internal strategic leadership. 4.4.5 5.5.6 We are part of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Group Widening Participation Association, which has provided a forum for collaborative work across these highly selective institutions for many years. As well as providing peer support for senior widening participation staff, the group plans and delivers collaborative activity including the biennial Teachers’ Conference and practitioner networks. 4.4.6 Widening Participation leads from 5.5.7 QMUL hopes to join the colleges of Realising Opportunities programme in 2018-19, and has had positive initial discussions with the University of London meet once a term to share best practice and focus on common issues. In 2016, the group agreed to share project-outcome data to enable colleagues to benchmark the performance of their suite of activities. This recognises the importance not just of evaluating activity internally, but also of benchmarking across the sector. Initial data-sharing will begin in the summer of 2016, looking at outcomes for summer schools and multi-intervention projects. The results will inform QMUL’s future strategic planningRealising Opportunity central team.