University To Help More Local Young People Access Higher Education

Published on: 20 Jan, 2015
Updated on: 26 Jan, 2015

The University of Surrey has been selected to lead a local network of institutions, including Royal Holloway, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) and Farnborough Technical College, to encourage more young people from the region into higher education.

It is part of a new £22 million scheme funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, involving more than 200 higher education institutions and reaching 4,300 secondary schools and colleges.

The National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) will consist of 35 local and regional providers of higher education, ensuring comprehensive coverage across England.

The University of Surrey as the lead institution in the network, will provide a single point of contact to help teachers and advisers find out about higher education outreach activity in their area and provide general advice about progression into higher education.

Websites for each network will also be set-up to host information about outreach activity, and signpost other information to support schools and colleges as they prepare their students for higher education.

Three more networks will offer advice and support to specific groups of students at national level, including older learners wishing to continue or return to study and care leavers.

Renata Eyres, head of widening participation and outreach at the University of Surrey said: “The network will support the work we already do in providing information, advice and guidance to parents and teachers, while introducing specifically targeted initiatives and wider engagement to raise the attainment and aspirations of school and college students across a range of age groups.”