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OFFA access report: UCL comment
4 July 2012
English universities and colleges are investing significantly more in outreach activity to raise aspirations and attainment among groups under-represented in higher education, according to the latest annual monitoring report by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).
The report, a joint publication with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), shows that outreach expenditure on activities such as summer schools rose by 15% to £45.7 million (up from £39.6 million in 2009-10).
Commenting on UCL's level of expenditure, Katy Redfern, Head of Outreach, said: "At 32.8%, UCL has committed a large proportion of additional fee income to working with and attracting underrepresented groups to study at UCL. We are pleased to see our outreach activities and bursary scheme having a positive impact on applications, but we recognise that there is still work to do in key areas.
"In 2010/11, UCL worked with over 20,000 young people, 900 parents, 400 teachers and 140 state schools and colleges. In 2009/10, UCL gained the Buttle UK Quality Mark in recognition of the support provided for looked-after children and we were proud to retain this in September 2010 for a further two years.
"UCL was founded as a radically different university, opening up English higher education for the first time to people of all beliefs and social backgrounds. That spirit remains alive today and UCL has renewed its commitment in its 2012/13 and 2013/14 Access Agreements."
Image: UCL Horizons is an award-winning long term outreach programme for students from non-selective state schools in inner London.
Links:
OFFA
UCL Outreach
UCL Access
Agreement 2012/13
UCL outreach programme wins award
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