National strategy for access and student success in higher education

Abstract

The strategy for improving access 17.The strategy aims to: a.Make significant and sustained improvements in the participation rates for the most disadvantaged groups and in the diversity of the student population.b.Narrow the gap in the participation rates in and across higher education between advantaged and disadvantaged groups.18. To meet these aims, we propose the following actions:New approach to collaborative outreach 19.We will work with higher education providers and partners to develop a national approach to collaborative outreach aimed at both young and mature students.20.This will build on and enhance existing arrangements and enable new collaborative partnerships to be formed where needed.It will complement the work that institutions undertake individually to maximise the impact and coverage of their access work, reduce duplication and recognise the contribution institutions make to widening access beyond their own student intake.In 2014-15 HEFCE will allocate funding to institutions to enable them to develop single points of contact for schools and other organisations seeking outreach activity.We will also support the sector to track more effectively the progression of learners that have taken part in outreach activity. Improving information, advice and guidance21.We will work with Government and other national bodies to develop a more joined-up approach to the provision of effective information, advice and guidance through the schools and further education sectors and into and beyond higher education.Although much has been done to provide high quality information, prospective students need individualised advice and guidance if they are to make informed and appropriate choices.22. Higher education outreach programmes will provide part of a solution but a high-level, crossgovernment policy response to this issue is required, and it is imperative that schools policy and higher education policy in this area are joined up. Support the development of flexible study options that meet the needs of students and employers23.It will be important to support the development of flexible study options that meet the needs of both students and employers.HEFCE will develop understanding and knowledge of local economic and market conditions with regard to part-time and flexible higher education study as part of its activity to address the decline in numbers entering higher education to study part-time.This activity will inform future policy and funding responses to part-time and flexible learning.OFFA will support the inclusion of flexible study options in their agreements with HE providers. National evaluation framework24.We will develop a national evaluation framework of common measures and effective evaluation practice.This will help universities and colleges to evaluate their own access and student success activities more effectively, and provide comparable data and evidence that can be used at a national level to inform both policy and practice.National strategy for access and student success in higher education 11 Co-ordination of national research25.There are many bodies/agencies/organisations that conduct national research into the issues identified in this strategy.HEFCE and OFFA already have established relationships with many of these bodies and so will work with them to try to assess whether there would be an effective way of coordinating this activity to better support the national evidence base.Institutional strategies for access and student success 26.We see a strategic, long-term "whole institution" approach as crucial and HEFCE and OFFA will adopt a coherent approach when requesting information from institutions, within which publicly funded higher education providers can set out their strategies and targets for access and student success.We will ensure as far as possible that our requests do not overlap and that we share information to meet our respective needs.The strategy for improving retention and student success 27.The strategy aims to: a. Improve student retention, reducing the number of students who withdraw early from higher education.b. Narrow the gap between the retention rates of the most advantaged and most disadvantaged.c. Improve outcomes for different student groups by addressing the unexplained differentials in attainment.28.To meet these aims, we propose the following actions:Support national activity to address issues of student retention and success 29.We will work with the Higher Education Academy, the Equality Challenge Unit, the National Union of Students (NUS), the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and others to support the development of knowledge, expertise and good practice that seeks to address non-continuation and disparities in attainment. Chapter 1: Access to higher educationOur objectives for access to higher education a. Make significant and sustained improvements in the participation rates for the most disadvantaged groups, and in the diversity of the student population.b. Narrow the gap in the participation rates in and across higher education between advantaged and disadvantaged groups.Our objectives for progression to further study or to/within employment a. Improve progression to postgraduate study for people from disadvantaged groups.b. Narrow the gap in progression to postgraduate study in and across higher education between advantaged and disadvantaged groups.c. Reduce inequalities in employment outcomes for graduates from different groups.d. Narrow the gap in employment outcomes between graduates from advantaged and disadvantaged groups.National strategy for access and student success in higher education 113 WPSS Widening participation strategic statement.Universities and colleges provide these statements on widening participation to HEFCE, allowing them to show, and take credit for, their work to widen participation, and show how it is embedded in their missions and policies.Young student For the purposes of this strategy we consider a young student to be one aged under 21 at the time of starting their course -some of the evidence referred to uses different definitions, and we have indicated these where they occur.Department for Business, Innovation & Skills https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department

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