Government goals on widening participation
In April 2015 the Prime Minister stated that, “[In the last parliament] the number of Asian, black and mixed race students increased to its highest level ever. In the next five years, I want us to go further, with an ambition for 20 per cent more students from diverse backgrounds in university”. The Prime Minister also committed to ‘double the proportion of disadvantaged young people entering higher education by 2020 from 2009 levels’.
What does this mean for the sector?
The entry rate goal is to double the proportion of 18 year olds from POLAR3 quintile 1 (those from the areas with lowest participation in higher education at the moment) from 13.6% in 2009, to 27.2% in 2020.
Universities UK analysis shows that this will mean an 8.01% increase annually from the 2016 cycle onwards, or 1.52 percentage points a year. The average of increases over the past nine years is 6.0% or not quite 1 percentage point. The goals set by the Prime Minister are very ambitious. Just the goal alone to increase UK black and minority ethnic full-time students by 20% equates to 50,000 students – a 3 to 4% increase in the population annually. The average growth over the past 7 years has been 3.8%. To achieve such goals by 2020 represents a significant challenge for the sector, not least given the significant changes to widening participation funding following the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Social Mobility Advisory Group
On Thursday 21 January Universities UK announced the launch of a new group to provide advice to government and support for English universities to improve access and long-term success for under-represented groups in higher education. The Social Mobility Advisory Group, which was set up following an invitation from the government, will publish a report in the summer and will be given to the Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson MP. Recommendation in the report will also be fed back to the Prime Minister.
In addition to looking at the Prime Minister’s goal, Jo Johnson MP requested that the group also explore how to increase the social mobility for young people from Caribbean heritage, white British boys from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and how to ensure that disabled people are able to fully participate in higher education and achieve strong outcomes.
The group has a unique opportunity to identify practical solutions and provide ambitious recommendations to government. The group will consider the current evidence, explore what universities in England are doing that works, and address what more could be done. In its work, the group will look at the entire student journey, from aspirations at school, to the process of applying to university, through to career progression once students graduate. The group will also consider the options available for people later in life, such as those who need to develop their skills as their job changes or those who were unable to attend university when they were younger. Expanding the remit to cover older learners isn’t just important for social mobility but also supports the productivity agenda, as issues of social mobility go hand-in-hand with the development of high level skills.
To view full delegate guide and agenda please open PDF below.