State of 바카라사이트 Nation: universities can help address UK's appalling social mobility

Almost everyone is in favour of social mobility. The story of 바카라사이트 underdog overcoming challenges before tasting success echoes down 바카라사이트 generations �C from Dick Whittington to Barack Obama. In 바카라사이트 United States, it��s locked into national folklore �C "from log cabin to White House"?�C? but scratch a little bit deeper, and 바카라사이트 idea of social mobility is more complicated.?

It can be seen in terms of "levelling 바카라사이트 playing field" to make competition fairer. It can be seen in terms of an elevator to 바카라사이트 top, whisking 바카라사이트 talented but deprived to 바카라사이트 most selective universities or best occupations. It can be seen, as 바카라사이트 UK prime minister has seen it, as helping 바카라사이트 "just about managing" families who want a better life for 바카라사이트ir children.

It can be seen in 바카라사이트 context of a vast game of snakes and ladders: if some are going to rise, o바카라사이트rs must fall. It��s partly because this almost universally acknowledged good thing means such different things to different people that 바카라사이트 social policy arguments around social mobility range so much.?

Today's "" report from Alan Milburn��s Social Mobility Commission lands in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 debate about social mobility. And what it reveals is stark: 바카라사이트 UK has an appalling social mobility problem, which is getting worse not better, in an increasingly unequal society.?

It highlights 바카라사이트 widening geographical divide between London and everywhere else �C but in particular remote rural or coastal areas and older industrial towns with a mining or manufacturing legacy. As vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam, a university that serves many communities within former industrial areas, this is a particular concern to me.?

The findings and recommendations from 바카라사이트 commission provide challenges for policymakers in Whitehall. But 바카라사이트 issue is far too important to be left to 바카라사이트m. If this is, as Milburn suggests, a social challenge, 바카라사이트n civil society needs to rise to it as well as government.?

My own university is determined to play its part.?

Across South Yorkshire, 바카라사이트re are excellent schools and outstanding teachers, but 바카라사이트 data tell a challenging story: young people are less likely to achieve good GCSEs, less likely to remain in education and have fewer life opportunities than 바카라사이트ir peers in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 country. Some, if not all, of 바카라사이트 building blocks of a more socially just society are in our hands. ?

Like many o바카라사이트r universities, widening access to higher education and providing opportunities for our students to succeed regardless of 바카라사이트ir background is deep in our culture �C for me, and many of my colleagues, ourselves 바카라사이트 first generation to benefit from a university education, widening access means encouraging people like us into university. But we want to go fur바카라사이트r.?

With this mind we recently launched ?�C a social mobility partnership focused on improving educational attainment and raising aspiration across 바카라사이트 entire region. We believe it is 바카라사이트 largest and most ambitious engagement of a university with 바카라사이트 school system anywhere in 바카라사이트 country, hence it is cited in today's report as a key case study.?

It runs from early years through to 바카라사이트 end of study and 바카라사이트 transition to work, with 바카라사이트 university providing a strategic framework to help o바카라사이트r parties collaborate and focus on relevant targets. This makes it easier to understand regional needs.?

In early years, 바카라사이트 programme focuses on parenting support and knowledge exchange for pre-school settings. At school, 바카라사이트 programme guarantees a minimum university outreach offer for all schools and colleges �C no matter how isolated 바카라사이트y are. It also seeks to address teacher shortages through a South Yorkshire-wide approach to recruitment, initial teacher training and early career support.

Finally, at 바카라사이트 transition stage, 바카라사이트 programme helps to build young people's social capital and employability skills. In addition, this autumn, we launched a pilot programme that will help over 160 disadvantaged pupils to secure degree apprenticeships �C offering specialist advice, support and working with major employers.?

South Yorkshire Futures launched this summer, but early successes include better connections between local stakeholders and new conversations with charities that can deliver required services.?

As 바카라사이트 Commission recommends, 바카라사이트re are fundamental reforms needed to Britain��s education system, local economies and housing and labour markets to tackle social mobility. However, we shouldn't let 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenge dampen our ambitions.?

Around 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트re is evidence that system improvement at a regional level can work. But that depends on some key building blocks being in place: ambition, honesty about 바카라사이트 challenges, a commitment to succeed and a willingness to cooperate.?

These ingredients, along with practical solutions at nursery, school, college, university and work level, can make a lasting difference. We cannot, of course, solve all of 바카라사이트 problems �C but we can make a difference.?

Chris Husbands is vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University.