Introduction
In 2023-24, we continued to strengthen engagement and to seek new collaborations with colleagues in other universities. Doing so enabled us to learn from and with others in the sector, fostering dialogue and reflecting, enabling exchange of knowledge and inspiring innovation.
Forum: Evaluating Access & Participation Plans
We led and hosted a sector-wide forum on 'Evaluating Access & Participation Plans' in October 2023. Colleagues working in access & outreach, widening participation, student progress & success and evaluation came together from universities including King's College London, LSE, Oxford, Reading, Southampton and UCL.
The one-day event provided opportunities to share lessons learned on developing and evaluating current (2020-25) APPs, applying these to existing and new initiatives for APPs in development. Delegates report that the forum has led to continued knowledge-exchange and the development of a number of research projects.
Our guest speakers - Prof. Liz Austen (Sheffield Hallam), Dr Paul Ian Campbell (Leicester) and Dr Sally Andrews (Staffordshire), joined by Cambridge student Jordan Byrne - offered critical insights on the 'wicked problems' associated with inequities in higher education, the need for critical and creative engagement with evaluation methodologies and developing inclusive approaches to evaluative enquiry which teaching staff can use to help improve educational practices.
For more information, contact Dr Amy Smail (as3394)
“What a great opportunity to collaborate with other institutions! The forum gave me a much-needed chance to actually reflect on how I approach evaluation at my institution, while giving me a lot to take away with ideas realistic to what can actually be done rather than what is just not possible.”
Project: Guidance for Developing Teaching & Learning Communities of Practice
This year, we led a successful bid for funding from Advance HE to develop a toolkit to support those looking to establish and sustain teaching & learning Communities of Practice. We also launched a Community of Practice itself focused on supporting those running such efforts.
This international project was a collaborative undertaking with colleagues from Leeds, Sydney, Goldsmiths, Bangor, Cardiff and Brighton.
The toolkit will be published in spring 2025.
For more information, contact Dr Cassie Lowe (cvl29)