Aims
The Aimhigher partners in the SW are joining together to widen participation in HE. The partnerships will focus on groups that are currently under-represented in HE so that all young people consider HE as a realistic option for them. The SW has a long and successful history of partnership working and is convinced that this makes sense to the groups with which we are trying to engage.
Regional and area partnerships
There are four Aimhigher partnerships in the SW - one at regional level and three at area level. The area partnerships are learner-focused and follow the travel to study patterns within the region, even though these do not always coincide with administrative boundaries. The map below shows that geographical distribution of the three area partnership in the SW.
Activities
The four partnerships have designed programmes of activity to raise HE awareness, aspirations and attainment as appropriate in each of the areas.
At a regional level
Activities include:
- Summer schools for young people in year 10 in year 11 in year 12 with vocational qualifications
- Somerset strand
- Provision of a website - www.aimhighersw.ac.uk
- Staff development
- Communications and infrastructure
At area level
Partnerships are working with young people and key opinion formers in
- schools and colleges
Activities include
- Taster visits to Universities
- Master Classes
- Summer schools
- Mentoring programmes
- Student tutoring
- Talks for parents/carers
the workplace
Young people in the workplace with level 3 qualifications are a key target group for the Aimhigher programme. We are working to encourage progression to HE by
- clarifying progression routes from workplace learning to HE
- raising awareness of progression opportunities amongst employers and employees
- providing taster events and summer schools
community settings
Work with parents, carers, youth leaders, trade unions and community groups reinforces our activities with young people by normalising the concept of HE within these communities. Activities include:
- family learning sessions
- work with refugees and asylum seekers
- provision of IT courses
KEY CONTACT DETAILS
Regional manager
Sue Hatt
Faculty of HLSS
University of the West of England
Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay,
Bristol BS16 1QY
Tel: 0117 3442361
Email: Susan.Hatt@uwe.ac.uk
LIFE Wessex Co-ordinator
Suzanne Hume
Bournemouth University PACE
6th Floor Royal London House
Bournemouth BH1 3LT
Tel: 01202 504199
Email: shume@bournemouth.ac.uk
Peninsula Co-ordinator
Vanessa Fitzgerald
Academic Partnerships
University of Plymouth,
Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA
Tel: 01752 232370
Email: vfitzgerald@plymouth.ac.uk
Aimhigher West Co-ordinator
Catherine Marshall
University of Gloucestershire
Park Campus, Cheltenham GL50 2QF
Tel: 01242 543337
Email: cmarshall@glos.ac.uk
