Common use of Outreach Activities Clause in Contracts

Outreach Activities. Edge Hill already operates a high level of outreach activities to support our Widening Participation Strategy. We offer a full menu of outreach activities covering HE Experience Days, Study Skills and Revision workshops, Preparation for HE (including student life and finance awareness), Parents events, Access programmes and staff development for Connexions staff and school careers teachers/advisors. Our current spend on these activities is in excess of £500,000 per annum. In addition to this commitment, Edge Hill invests more than 10% of the new income generated from variable fees to enhance our Widening Participation work through aspiration-raising activities and targeted post entry support. In further developing our outreach strategy, new income has allowed us to target our activities much more specifically towards awareness-raising amongst those who have a strong influencing impact on learners who may not previously have considered higher education as an option. In particular, we look to reach out to parents, minority ethnic and other community groups and advisory services such as Connexions. We are committed to the following new work and will review our position in relation to further projects annually in the light of actual income received. Many of these projects commenced in 2005 requiring an up-front spend in advance of income receipt. 5 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme 6 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme We are currently actively involved in 2 sub-regional Aimhigher Projects (Greater Merseyside and Lancashire) providing a range of aspiration and attainment raising activities from Years 8 –13 plus development of progression routes for mature, part-time and WBL students. Aspiration-raising Edge Hill believes that aspiration-raising and attainment is the single most important factor in lifting the number of students from disadvantaged and low- income families entering higher education. We already work closely with local schools and colleges and the advisory services to identify potential and encourage participation. In addition to our current work we aim to: ▪ Develop and deliver a structured aspiration and awareness raising programme for Care Leavers, to include carers and Social Services Professionals. ▪ Provide subject-based sessions/master-classes at selected schools/colleges delivered by Edge Hill academic staff from all disciplines. This is estimated at 75 events in the first year with anticipated growth over the life of the agreement. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing black and minority ethnic recruitment through an additional appointment to the Widening participation team. Specifically this will include new marketing and information publications and liaison with community groups. ▪ Deliver targeted taster days/events for parents and minority ethnic groups. ▪ Continue to work with a range of employer and FE partners to develop new Foundation Degree provision targeted towards mature, part-time and low participation groups. ▪ Work towards the delivery of Preparation for HE courses to targeted groups of undergraduate students following a successful pilot in 2006. ▪ Provide sessions to support General Studies teaching to support local Schools and Colleges and to further raise pupil aspirations. ▪ Work across Lancashire and Greater Merseyside partnerships in support of the new 14-19 Diplomas to provide academic input into curriculum design and development to ensure equality of access to HE for Diploma students and support IAG and senior manager expertise in the development of the Transitions strand to ensure appropriate progression routes are available. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing the recruitment of young, white males from deprived and low participation areas. Information provision Raising aspiration must be accompanied by clear and accurate information about the opportunities available and the costs involved so that students can make real choices. Our ongoing programme of information provision includes: ▪ Ensuring that clear information about the financial implications of the university’s learning opportunities is available to all potential students through their channel of choice including websites, printed information, face-to-face contact at outreach events and Open Days. ▪ Developing and delivering financial support advice sessions in the region in conjunction with local LEAs and current students. (Target group – parents) ▪ Further developing the Pre-entry Guidance Service. ▪ Researching the effectiveness of communication of the Edge Hill financial package and adapting information accordingly. ▪ Further promoting progression opportunities from FE to HE especially through existing Partner Colleges which recruit from low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Targeting communications in low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Highlighting the benefits of HE coupled with affordability messages based on national and EHU initiatives. ▪ Delivering awareness sessions for Aimhigher Co-ordinators and Connexions staff ▪ Exploitation of new technologies such as internet social networking to engage and communicate with potential students about all aspects of progression to HE. Post-entry support Edge Hill believes that the levels of personal and academic support provided for students whilst on-course are crucial in encouraging non-traditional students to enter higher education. This is especially true for first generation students, mature students, students with disabilities and some minority ethnic groups. Equally, an essential part of aspiration-raising relies on generating learner confidence around debt management and the added value of a degree in gaining employment. The following activities build on the life-cycle support model employed at Edge Hill and are especially important to the recruitment of under- represented groups: ▪ Development of specific mentoring schemes for minority ethnic students and other targeted groups. ▪ The establishment of learner/student support schemes within each Faculty to identify study skills/learning needs. ▪ Further development of the Edge Hill Job Shop to provide monitored employment opportunities for students. ▪ Development of specific careers guidance input for applicants and new entrants. ▪ Development of work placement schemes as options for all undergraduate provision. ▪ Enhancement of the FirstWeek programme and mentoring schemes to ensure one-to-one as well as group relationships are established. ▪ Establishment and maintenance of a designated contact worker in support of Care Leavers entering and progressing through University and development of a specific peer support ‘buddying’ scheme for Care Leavers. These activities and those under 4 below will be supported through the annual budget review to provide additional staff, essential training/staff development and materials/equipment.

Outreach Activities. Edge Hill already operates a high level of outreach activities to support our Widening Participation Strategy. We offer a full menu of outreach activities covering HE Experience Days, Study Skills and Revision workshops, Preparation for HE (including student life and finance awareness), Parents events, Access programmes and staff development for Connexions staff and school careers teachers/advisors. Our current spend on these activities is in excess of £500,000 per annum. In addition to this commitment, Edge Hill invests more than intends to invest a further 10% of the new income generated from variable fees (estimated at £4.1 million over the five year period) to enhance our Widening Participation work through aspiration-aspiration- raising activities and targeted post entry support. In further developing our outreach strategy, new income has allowed will allow us to target our activities much more specifically towards awareness-raising amongst those who have a strong influencing impact on learners who may not previously have considered higher education as an option. In particular, we look are looking to reach out to parents, minority ethnic and other community groups and advisory services such as Connexions. We are committed to the following new work and will review our position in relation to further projects annually in the light of actual income received. Many of these projects commenced in 2005 requiring an up-front spend in advance of income receipt. 5 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme 6 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme We are currently actively involved in 2 sub-regional Aimhigher Projects (Greater Merseyside and Lancashire) providing a range of aspiration and attainment raising activities from Years 8 –13 plus development of progression routes for mature, part-time and WBL students. Aspiration-raising Edge Hill believes that aspiration-raising and attainment is the single most important factor in lifting the number of students from disadvantaged and low- income families entering higher education. We already work closely with local schools and colleges and the advisory services to identify potential and encourage participation. In addition to our current work we aim to: ▪ Develop and deliver a structured aspiration and awareness raising programme for Care Leavers, to include carers and Social Services Professionals. ▪ Provide subject-based sessions/master-classes at selected schools/colleges delivered by Edge Hill academic staff from all disciplines. This is estimated at 75 events in the first year with anticipated growth over the life of the agreement. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing black and minority ethnic recruitment through an additional appointment to the Widening participation team. Specifically this will include new marketing and information publications and liaison with community groups. ▪ Deliver targeted taster days/events for parents and minority ethnic groups. ▪ Continue to work with a range of employer and FE partners to develop new Foundation Degree provision targeted towards mature, part-time and low participation groups. ▪ Work towards the delivery of Preparation for HE courses to targeted groups of undergraduate students following a successful pilot in 2006. ▪ Provide sessions free GCSE revision programmes for English, Mathematics and Science and offer the Equivalency Tests to support General Studies teaching a number of regional and national centres for applicants to support local Schools and Colleges and to further raise pupil aspirationsprofessional status programmes where this is a requirement for entry. ▪ Work across Lancashire and Greater Merseyside partnerships in support of the new 14-19 Diplomas to provide academic input into curriculum design and development to ensure equality of access to HE for Diploma students and support IAG and senior manager expertise in the development of the Transitions strand to ensure appropriate progression routes are available. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing the recruitment of young, white males from deprived and low participation areas. Information provision Raising aspiration must be accompanied by clear and accurate information about the opportunities available and the costs involved so that students can make real choices. Our ongoing programme of information provision includes: ▪ Ensuring that clear information about the financial implications of the university’s learning opportunities is available to all potential students through their channel of choice including websites, printed information, face-to-face contact at outreach events and Open Days. ▪ Developing and delivering financial support advice sessions in the region in conjunction with local LEAs and current students. (Target group – parents) ▪ Further developing the Pre-entry Guidance Service. ▪ Researching the effectiveness of communication of the Edge Hill financial package and adapting information accordingly. ▪ Further promoting progression opportunities from FE to HE especially through existing Partner Colleges which recruit from low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Targeting communications in low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Highlighting the benefits of HE coupled with affordability messages based on national and EHU initiatives. ▪ Delivering awareness sessions for Aimhigher Co-ordinators and Connexions staff ▪ Exploitation of new technologies such as internet social networking to engage and communicate with potential students about all aspects of progression to HE. Post-entry support Edge Hill believes that the levels of personal and academic support provided for students whilst on-course are crucial in encouraging non-traditional students to enter higher education. This is especially true for first generation students, mature students, students with disabilities and some minority ethnic groups. Equally, an essential part of aspiration-raising relies on generating learner confidence around debt management and the added value of a degree in gaining employment. The following activities build on the life-cycle support model employed at Edge Hill and are especially important to the recruitment of under- represented groups: ▪ Development of specific mentoring schemes for minority ethnic students and other targeted groups. ▪ The establishment of learner/student support schemes within each Faculty to identify study skills/learning needs. ▪ Further development of the Edge Hill Job Shop to provide monitored employment opportunities for students. ▪ Development of specific careers guidance input for applicants and new entrants. ▪ Development of work placement schemes as options for all undergraduate provision. ▪ Enhancement of the FirstWeek programme and mentoring schemes to ensure one-to-one as well as group relationships are established. ▪ Establishment and maintenance of a designated contact worker in support of Care Leavers entering and progressing through University and development of a specific peer support ‘buddying’ scheme for Care Leavers. These activities and those under 4 below will be supported through the annual budget review to provide additional staff, essential training/staff development and materials/equipment.

Outreach Activities. Edge Hill already operates a high level of outreach activities to support our Widening Participation Strategy. We offer a full menu of outreach activities covering HE Experience Days, Study Skills and Revision workshops, Preparation for HE (including student life and finance awareness), Parents events, Access programmes and staff development for Connexions staff and school careers teachers/advisors. Our current spend on these activities is in excess of £500,000 per annum. In addition to this commitment, Edge Hill invests more than 10% of the new income generated from variable fees to enhance our Widening Participation work through aspiration-raising activities and targeted post entry support. In further developing our outreach strategy, new income has allowed us to target our activities much more specifically towards awareness-raising amongst those who have a strong influencing impact on learners who may not previously have considered higher education as an option. In particular, we look to reach out to parents, minority ethnic and other community groups and advisory services such as Connexions. We are committed to the following new work and will review our position in relation to further projects annually in the light of actual income received. Many of these projects commenced in 2005 requiring an up-front spend in advance of income receipt. 5 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme 6 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme We are currently actively involved in 2 sub-regional Aimhigher Projects (Greater Merseyside and Lancashire) providing a range of aspiration and attainment raising activities from Years 8 –13 plus development of progression routes for mature, part-time and WBL students. Aspiration-raising Edge Hill believes that aspiration-raising and attainment is the single most important factor in lifting the number of students from disadvantaged and low- income families entering higher education. We already work closely with local schools and colleges and the advisory services to identify potential and encourage participation. In addition to our current work we aim to: ▪  Develop and deliver a structured aspiration and awareness raising programme for Care Leavers, to include carers and Social Services Professionals. ▪  Provide subject-based sessions/master-classes at selected schools/colleges delivered by Edge Hill academic staff from all disciplines. This is estimated at 75 events in the first year with anticipated growth over the life of the agreement. ▪  Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing black and minority ethnic recruitment through an additional appointment to the Widening participation team. Specifically this will include new marketing and information publications and liaison with community groups. ▪  Deliver targeted taster days/events for parents and minority ethnic groups. ▪  Continue to work with a range of employer and FE partners to develop new Foundation Degree provision targeted towards mature, part-time and low participation groups. ▪  Work towards the delivery of Preparation for HE courses to targeted groups of undergraduate students following a successful pilot in 2006. ▪  Provide sessions to support General Studies teaching to support local Schools and Colleges and to further raise pupil aspirations. ▪  Work across Lancashire and Greater Merseyside partnerships in support of the new 14-19 Diplomas to provide academic input into curriculum design and development to ensure equality of access to HE for Diploma students and support IAG and senior manager expertise in the development of the Transitions strand to ensure appropriate progression routes are available. ▪  Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing the recruitment of young, white males from deprived and low participation areas. Information provision Raising aspiration must be accompanied by clear and accurate information about the opportunities available and the costs involved so that students can make real choices. Our ongoing programme of information provision includes: ▪  Ensuring that clear information about the financial implications of the university’s learning opportunities is available to all potential students through their channel of choice including websites, printed information, face-to-face contact at outreach events and Open Days. ▪  Developing and delivering financial support advice sessions in the region in conjunction with local LEAs and current students. (Target group – parents) ▪  Further developing the Pre-entry Guidance Service. ▪  Researching the effectiveness of communication of the Edge Hill financial package and adapting information accordingly. ▪  Further promoting progression opportunities from FE to HE especially through existing Partner Colleges which recruit from low participation neighbourhoods. ▪  Targeting communications in low participation neighbourhoods. ▪  Highlighting the benefits of HE coupled with affordability messages based on national and EHU initiatives. ▪  Delivering awareness sessions for Aimhigher Co-ordinators and Connexions staff ▪  Exploitation of new technologies such as internet social networking to engage and communicate with potential students about all aspects of progression to HE. Post-entry support Edge Hill believes that the levels of personal and academic support provided for students whilst on-course are crucial in encouraging non-traditional students to enter higher education. This is especially true for first generation students, mature students, students with disabilities and some minority ethnic groups. Equally, an essential part of aspiration-raising relies on generating learner confidence around debt management and the added value of a degree in gaining employment. The following activities build on the life-cycle support model employed at Edge Hill and are especially important to the recruitment of under- represented groups: ▪  Development of specific mentoring schemes for minority ethnic students and other targeted groups. ▪  The establishment of learner/student support schemes within each Faculty to identify study skills/learning needs. ▪  Further development of the Edge Hill Job Shop to provide monitored employment opportunities for students. ▪  Development of specific careers guidance input for applicants and new entrants. ▪  Development of work placement schemes as options for all undergraduate provision. ▪  Enhancement of the FirstWeek programme and mentoring schemes to ensure one-to-one as well as group relationships are established. ▪  Establishment and maintenance of a designated contact worker in support of Care Leavers entering and progressing through University and development of a specific peer support ‘buddying’ scheme for Care Leavers. These activities and those under 4 below will be supported through the annual budget review to provide additional staff, essential training/staff development and materials/equipment.

Outreach Activities. Edge Hill already operates a high level of outreach activities to support our Widening Participation Strategy. We offer a full menu of outreach activities covering HE Experience Days, Study Skills and Revision workshops, Preparation for HE (including student life and finance awareness), Parents events, Access programmes and staff development for Connexions staff and school careers teachers/advisors. Our current spend on these activities is in excess of £500,000 per annum. In addition to this commitment, Edge Hill invests more than 10% of the new income generated from variable fees to enhance our Widening Participation work through aspiration-raising activities and targeted post entry support. In further developing our outreach strategy, new income Brunel University has allowed us to target our activities much more specifically towards awareness-raising amongst those who have a strong influencing impact on learners who may not previously have considered higher reputation for widening access both within the sector and with its partners in both mainstream education as an optionand further education. In particular, we look to reach out to parents, minority ethnic and other community groups and advisory services such as Connexions. We are committed to the following new work and will review our position in relation to further projects annually in the light of actual income received. Many of these projects commenced in 2005 requiring an up-front spend in advance of income receipt. 5 The University may increase the number has had a dedicated team since 2002 focussing on outreach, transition and variety of scholarships available under this scheme 6 The University may increase the number retention and variety of scholarships available under this scheme We are currently actively involved in 2 sub-regional Aimhigher Projects (Greater Merseyside and Lancashire) providing a range of aspiration and attainment raising activities from Years 8 –13 plus development of progression routes for mature, part-time and WBL students. Aspiration-raising Edge Hill believes that aspiration-raising and attainment is the single most important factor in lifting the number of students from disadvantaged and low- income families entering higher education. We already work closely has achieved considerable success both directly with local schools and colleges and the advisory services to identify potential and encourage participation. In addition to our current work we aim to: ▪ Develop and deliver a structured aspiration and awareness raising programme for Care Leavers, to include carers and Social Services Professionals. ▪ Provide subject-based sessions/master-classes at selected schools/colleges delivered by Edge Hill academic staff from all disciplines. This is estimated at 75 events in the first year with anticipated growth over the life of the agreement. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing black and minority ethnic recruitment through an additional appointment to the Widening participation team. Specifically this will include new marketing and information publications and liaison with community groups. ▪ Deliver targeted taster days/events for parents and minority ethnic groups. ▪ Continue to work with a range of employer and FE partners to develop new Foundation Degree provision targeted towards mature, part-time and low participation groups. ▪ Work towards the delivery of Preparation for HE courses to targeted groups of undergraduate students following a successful pilot in 2006. ▪ Provide sessions to support General Studies teaching to support local Schools and Colleges in West London and through its award winning partnership programme with the London Borough of Hillingdon. Brunel also is recognised by Buttle UK for its efforts to further raise pupil aspirationsencourage the entry of care- leavers into the University and its efforts to provide specialist support for this group. ▪ Work across Lancashire Our long term outreach strategy is based upon years of providing evolving forms of activity and Greater Merseyside partnerships targeting interventions on very specific cohorts to achieve objectives. Given the inexorable rise in requests from Schools and Colleges for IAG support we have found that focussing on establishments in receipt of the newly introduced “Pupil Premium” helps to more accurately target activity. A large percentage of our students are from WP backgrounds which is unusual for a research-intensive institution. Key activities undertaken annually include: HE awareness visits, master classes, subject taster days, IAG sessions and summer schools focusing on the 5 west London boroughs of Xxxxx, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow and Hounslow - high priority schools/colleges and low participation neighbourhoodsfrom Year 5/6 upwards Events in partnership with local schools, FE colleges, HEIs, voluntary organizations, local authorities, regional or national progression projects Parents/carers annual event Campus visits for disabled students from local schools/colleges Annual pre-induction day for students with disabilities plus induction week programme Activities in schools, colleges, community settings etc to aid successful transition to HE of WP students LB Hillingdon Primary school campus visits and other awareness raising activities (12 annually) Bespoke activities for LB Hillingdon partnership Academies in low participation neighbourhoods (LPNs) – Harefield and Stockley All activities are fully evaluated through written feedback, focus groups and action research within a developing formal evaluation framework covering both the OFFA Access Agreement and the WPSS. However through membership of AccessHE, the pan-London partnership body, we intend to start to use data tracking approaches to enable us to track the outcomes from our work regardless of whether student’s progress to Brunel in a powerful and holistic way. Each year 4,000 children attend aspirational events delivered by Brunel. It is our aim to maintain this level of performance in attracting students from such groups through continuation of our Outreach activities, although we will need to work hard to do so as the cohort may prove attractive to other institutions due to the volatile nature of the HE market currently. Detailed targetry for our Outreach activity can be found within our University Widening Participation Strategic Statement. Efforts to increase the number of mature students at Brunel suggest our proposed targets to increase the numbers from this group are unrealistic given the national impact of the new 14fees regime on part time, predominantly mature applicants and we have therefore revised them to focus on maintaining our mature student base. In our 2012 agreement we anticipated that we would explore the possibility of supporting a UTC in collaboration with the London Borough of Hillingdon as we recognise that there are many pathways into Higher Education. As a result we are the lead partner in the Heathrow Aviation UTC which will provide a range of pathways into engineering and other STEM subjects. The UTC will open in autumn 2014 and we plan to support the UTC with further targeted outreach activity. Brunel University strongly believes that a collaborative approach to outreach can bring a wider range of higher education opportunities to local students and as such we are founder members of AccessHE, a social enterprise developed within London’s HE sector formed from within the former Aimhigher partnerships of the capital. We believe that this collaboration complements our existing, and highly successful, outreach programme. AccessHE enables the development of new approaches and the sharing of best practice through specific forums. Brunel is already a participant in the LAC (Looked After Children and Care Leavers) Forum, Disability Forum, Student Ambassador Forum, Evidence and Evaluation Forum and Retention Forum. Membership also provides valuable data to enable the targeting of activity to monitor progress on access issues across London in a holistic way. Joint activities on IAG Information, Advice and Guidance and collaborations between Brunel and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Royal Veterinary College have already taken place. We anticipate further collaboration to bring a broader perspective on HE to our local WP cohort. It is anticipated that we will be particularly active in the following areas of collaboration: Participation in outreach/learner events organised by AccessHE, London South Aimhigher and other WP groups Participation in a long term pan-19 Diplomas London approach to assessing the impact of collaborative outreach activity through targeting specific individuals and monitoring progress longitudinally. Contribution to WP forums and conferences convened by AccessHE and other groups (focussing on care leavers, retention issues, disabled students and student ambassadors) Provision of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) sessions in collaboration with partner XXXx Input into the London Access Data Service run by AccessHE for partner institutions to provide academic input into curriculum design more accurate monitoring and development tracking of WP students We are also members of NEON (National Education Opportunities Network) which is the professional organisation supporting those involved in widening access to ensure equality of higher education. NEON aims to enable those working to widen access to HE at all levels and in all sectors to affect change in their own organisations and communities. NEON is based on a cross-sector, bottom up approach bringing together HEIs, schools, colleges, student unions, the voluntary sector, professional bodies and statutory stakeholders. The focus is on both how the progression to HE for Diploma under-represented communities and individuals can be increased and also how their success when they enter, progress through, and leave, HE can be ensured. We recognise that HEFCE and OFFA wish to see closer alignment between outreach activity funded through both channels and this agreement sees the concentration of traditional outreach activity through our WP strategy whilst OFFA funding is used to support collaborative approaches and the continued expansion of our current gifted and talented “Urban Scholars” programme, and its associated research programme, to focus on Hillingdon and other West London Schools which was funded from previous access agreements. Hillingdon has a long history of low participation and our work within the Borough is ongoing and welcomed by the local authority. Student Success - transition, retention, achievement and improved employment outcomes for students Just as the focus of our outreach activity is predominantly funded from HEFCE grants our transition, retention and support IAG and senior manager expertise achievement activities (student success) are funded in the development main from our OFFA Agreement. Brunel has operated a programme called “Headstart” for a number of years which aims to give students with little or no experience of Higher Education a clear insight into the Transitions strand to ensure appropriate progression routes are available. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed level of work expected at increasing the recruitment of young, white males from deprived and low participation areas. Information provision Raising aspiration must be accompanied by clear and accurate information about the opportunities available University and the costs involved so study skills required. We will use our additional fee income to continually increase the numbers of students taking advantage of this pre-sessional scheme which is delivered partly on line and partly through on site workshops. It is our experience that transition is critical in ensuring widening access students can make real choiceshave a successful start at university and this contributes significantly to student success. Our ongoing programme Brunel’s success in attracting WP students requires a greater focus on activities to improve retention and achievement and therefore we anticipate this will form a significant element of information provision includes: ▪ Ensuring our OFFA Agreements for the foreseeable future. Data analysis has also shown that clear information about the financial implications of the university’s learning opportunities is available to all potential students through their channel of choice certain groups, including websites, printed information, face-to-face contact at outreach events and Open Days. ▪ Developing and delivering financial support advice sessions in the region in conjunction with local LEAs and current students. (Target group – parents) ▪ Further developing the Pre-entry Guidance Service. ▪ Researching the effectiveness of communication of the Edge Hill financial package and adapting information accordingly. ▪ Further promoting progression opportunities from FE to HE especially through existing Partner Colleges which recruit from low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Targeting communications in low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Highlighting the benefits of HE coupled with affordability messages based on national and EHU initiatives. ▪ Delivering awareness sessions for Aimhigher Co-ordinators and Connexions staff ▪ Exploitation of new technologies such as internet social networking to engage and communicate with potential students about all aspects of progression to HE. Post-entry support Edge Hill believes that the levels of personal and academic support provided for students whilst on-course are crucial in encouraging non-traditional students to enter higher education. This is especially true for first generation students, mature students, are less likely to achieve the retention levels common to other cohorts. We will continue to fund and develop pilot schemes within academic schools to examine how best to deliver an improvement in retention amongst specified groups, including care-leavers, with the aim of rolling out best practice. This rolling programme of student success activities will be in addition to major pan-University retention programmes allied to our Learning and Teaching Strategy. This Agreement also details our targets for retention of students for the future. Our analysis suggests that student success is improved where students take an industrial or other work related placement. As an institution Brunel University strongly believes in a student experience built upon the foundations of employer engagement and research–led teaching and has continued to provide placement options across its portfolio. However our research shows that students from Low participation neighbourhoods and mature students are less likely to take up this option. In order to improve take up of placements by under- represented groups we will provide a fee-waiver to students from such groups during the placement year. Where placements are unpaid, we will provide £1k to each student where applicable to ensure take up of this opportunity. We intend to focus on development of employability skills with disabilities new university wide initiatives scheduled to be piloted in 2013/14 with a full launch in 2014/15 as we recognise the importance for our students. We also intend to provide bursaries to around 20% of the student population by 2016/17 to ensure students or recent graduates from under- represented groups are able to take up internships and some minority ethnic groupstherefore assist with entry into low mobility professions such as Law and Psychology. EquallyWe will look to take steps to improve employability outcomes for our students and graduates utilising a range of means, an essential part both financial and through providing additional skills activity. To encourage high performing students from under-represented groups to apply for, or transfer to, our four year integral undergraduate Masters degrees in Mathematics and Engineering we will offer successful candidates a fee waiver of aspiration-raising relies on generating learner confidence around debt management and £3k for the added value fourth year of a degree in gaining employmentstudy. The following activities build on This reduces the life-cycle support model employed at Edge Hill and are especially important cost to the recruitment of under- represented groups: ▪ Development of specific mentoring schemes for minority ethnic national basic fee and encourages such students and other targeted groups. ▪ The establishment of learner/student support schemes within each Faculty to identify study skills/learning needs. ▪ Further development of the Edge Hill Job Shop to provide monitored employment opportunities for students. ▪ Development of specific careers guidance input for applicants and new entrants. ▪ Development of work placement schemes as options for all undergraduate provision. ▪ Enhancement of the FirstWeek programme and mentoring schemes to ensure one-to-one as well as group relationships are established. ▪ Establishment and maintenance of a designated contact worker pursue excellence in support of Care Leavers entering and progressing through University and development of a specific peer support ‘buddying’ scheme for Care Leavers. These activities and those under 4 below will be supported through the annual budget review to provide additional staff, essential training/staff development and materials/equipmentSTEM subjects.

Outreach Activities. Edge Hill already operates The University will to continue to run a high level number of outreach activities to support our Widening Participation Strategythe most successful Aimhigher interventions and will retain relevant core staff during the interim year 2011-12 and beyond. We offer also recognise the critical role that both placement students and student ambassadors have had (as part of the Aimhigher programme) in raising the aspirations of under-represented students and helping to demystify HE. We are keen to continue to use our own BU students to this end. We will continue to target schools and colleges identified during the Aimhigher period and will explore how to expand this outreach to schools outside the Aimhigher geographical area, including at national level. In addition, our close links with local Academies in LPN areas – notably St Aldhelm’s and Oakmead – will be developed further. We are currently leading a full menu small research project designed to learn about future students aspirations for their higher education and have conducted recorded interviews with children from a range of outreach schools to elicit the ‘applicant voice’. This has informed our plans for fair access and our wider student experience activities covering HE Experience Days, Study Skills and Revision workshops, Preparation will be developed into a local ‘children’s commission’ for HE (including student life and finance awareness), Parents events, Access programmes the ongoing engagement of BU with schools in our locale. The recorded material will be used in an internal awareness raising and staff development for Connexions staff programme. The activities which are proposed to be funded are Summer Schools, Mentoring, Campus visits, Taster Days, Master Classes, Information and school careers teachers/advisorsGuidance sessions, Staff Development, supporting Looked After Children (LAC) Virtual Schools, and students with a disability. Our current spend on these activities is in excess of £500,000 per annum. In addition to this commitment, Edge Hill invests more than 10% All of the new income generated from variable fees above events for pre-16 learners have been proven to enhance our Widening Participation work through aspiration-raising activities and targeted post entry support. In further developing our outreach strategy, new income has allowed us to raise aspirations amongst the target our activities much more specifically towards awareness-raising amongst those who have a strong influencing impact on learners who may not previously have considered higher education as an option. In particular, we look to reach out to parents, minority ethnic and other community groups and advisory services such as Connexions. We are committed to the following new work and will review our position in relation to further projects annually in the light of actual income received. Many of these projects commenced in 2005 requiring an up-front spend in advance of income receipt. 5 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme 6 The University may increase the number and variety of scholarships available under this scheme We are currently actively involved in 2 sub-regional Aimhigher Projects (Greater Merseyside and Lancashire) providing a range of aspiration and attainment raising activities from Years 8 –13 plus development of progression routes for mature, part-time and WBL students. Aspiration-raising Edge Hill believes that aspiration-raising and attainment is the single most important factor in lifting the number of students from disadvantaged and low- income families entering higher education. We already work closely with local schools and colleges and the advisory services to identify potential and encourage participation. In addition to our current work we aim to: ▪ Develop and deliver a structured aspiration and awareness raising programme for Care Leavers, to include carers and Social Services Professionals. ▪ Provide subject-based sessions/master-classes at selected schools/colleges delivered by Edge Hill academic staff from all disciplines. This is estimated at 75 events in the first year with anticipated growth over the life of the agreement. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing black and minority ethnic recruitment through an additional appointment to the Widening participation team. Specifically this will include new marketing and information publications and liaison with community groups. ▪ Deliver targeted taster days/events for parents and minority ethnic groups. ▪ Continue to work with a range of employer and FE partners to develop new Foundation Degree provision targeted towards mature, part-time and low participation groups. ▪ Work towards the delivery of Preparation for HE courses to targeted groups of undergraduate students following a successful pilot in 2006. ▪ Provide sessions to support General Studies teaching to support local Schools and Colleges and to further raise pupil aspirations. ▪ Work across Lancashire and Greater Merseyside partnerships in support of the new 14-19 Diplomas to provide academic input into curriculum design and development to ensure equality of access to HE for Diploma students and support IAG and senior manager expertise in the development of the Transitions strand to ensure appropriate progression routes are available. ▪ Develop strategy and targeted activities aimed at increasing the recruitment of young, white males from deprived and low participation areas. Information provision Raising aspiration must be accompanied by clear and accurate information about the opportunities available and the costs involved so that students can make real choices. Our ongoing programme of information provision includes: ▪ Ensuring that clear information about the financial implications of the university’s learning opportunities Evidence is available to all potential from local Aimhigher Area evaluations and widely acknowledged by national research. Post-16 support for learners will be offered through specific guidance in helping students through their channel of choice including websites, printed information, face-to-face contact at outreach events and Open Days. ▪ Developing and delivering financial support advice sessions in the region in conjunction with local LEAs and current students. (Target group – parents) ▪ Further developing the Pre-entry Guidance Service. ▪ Researching the effectiveness of communication of the Edge Hill financial package and adapting information accordingly. ▪ Further promoting progression opportunities from FE to HE especially through existing Partner Colleges which recruit from low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Targeting communications in low participation neighbourhoods. ▪ Highlighting the benefits of HE coupled with affordability messages based on national and EHU initiatives. ▪ Delivering awareness sessions for Aimhigher Co-ordinators and Connexions staff ▪ Exploitation of new technologies such as internet social networking to engage and communicate with potential students about all aspects of progression make appropriate applications to HE. PostBU will fund a peripatetic impartial HE guidance role for target schools. By 2012/13 we intend to have in place Compact Agreements with relevant target schools and colleges. We will build these agreements during 2011/12. In time, these are likely to extend to our target institutions’ feeder schools at Primary level. In this context, we recognise that parents, carers and guardians are important influencers and will endeavour to reach more parents via Primary-entry support Edge Hill believes that level feeder schools over the levels of personal and academic support provided for students whilst on-course are crucial in encouraging non-traditional students to enter higher education. This is especially true for first generation students, mature students, students with disabilities and some minority ethnic groups. Equally, an essential part of aspiration-raising relies on generating learner confidence around debt management and the added value of a degree in gaining employment. The following activities build on the life-cycle support model employed at Edge Hill and are especially important to the recruitment of under- represented groups: ▪ Development of specific mentoring schemes for minority ethnic students and other targeted groups. ▪ The establishment of learner/student support schemes within each Faculty to identify study skills/learning needs. ▪ Further development of the Edge Hill Job Shop to provide monitored employment opportunities for students. ▪ Development of specific careers guidance input for applicants and new entrants. ▪ Development of work placement schemes as options for all undergraduate provision. ▪ Enhancement of the FirstWeek programme and mentoring schemes to ensure one-to-one as well as group relationships are established. ▪ Establishment and maintenance of a designated contact worker in support of Care Leavers entering and progressing through University and development of a specific peer support ‘buddying’ scheme for Care Leavers. These activities and those under 4 below will be supported through the annual budget review to provide additional staff, essential training/staff development and materials/equipmentnext few years.