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As UCL marks 200 years, Access and Widening Participation reflects on 25 years of opening doors to education.
Founded 200 years ago on principles of inclusivity and equality of opportunity, UCL has always sought to challenge barriers to education. While outreach work across the university had been taking place prior to 2001, the development of the first WP strategy marked a step change - establishing a clear, strategic and institution-wide approach to access and widening participation.
Today, UCL is home to one of the largest Access and Widening Participation teams in the UK, continuing to carry forward UCL's founding mission. Working with thousands of students, schools and teachers each year, this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on 25 years of progress, partnership and learning and to look ahead to the future of widening participation at UCL.
Timeline of 25 Years of Access and Widening Participation at UCL
Discover the first 25 years of the Access and Widening Participation Office, from our foundation in 2001 and some of our first flagship events all the way through to the present day and our newest and most ambitious programmes.
Faces of WP25
The Access and Widening Participation Office is full of inspirational stories and staff members who continue to use their personal experiences to help shape our programmes and policy. Find out more via our 'Faces of WP25' series, including staff members who can also be found in the wider Faces of UCL campaign as part of the UCL 200 celebrations.
Check out all our Faces of WP25 features here
Hear from current UCL students on what Access and Widening Participation means to them
Many of the students that we work with or who attend our programmes go on to attend UCL. We've caught up with some of our Access UCL students to ask what Access and Widening Participations means to them.
Latest WP25 news and inspiring outreach stories from across UCL
Access and Widening Participation activity is embedded across UCL, from university-wide campaigns to faculty and departmental initiatives all providing vital services for prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds. You can read some of the inspirational stories UCL outreach community:
Want to get involved with Access and Widening Participation at UCL?
Check out our brand new SharePoint designed to support UCL staff who work with schools, run outreach activity, or are interested in widening participation work at UCL.
It brings together guidance, contacts and resources in one place, so it’s easier to plan and run activity that supports access to UCL:
