Flagship access scheme ¡®hampered by priority and funding shifts¡¯

England¡¯s flagship university outreach scheme generates economic impact at least five times greater than its cost but has suffered from patchy funding, constantly changing priorities and low visibility outside 바카라사이트 sector, according to an independent review.

Uni Connect, which aims to encourage people from disadvantaged backgrounds to?enter higher education, was responsible for sending 2,350 extra students to university in 2020-21, as well as placing 670 students in universities with higher entrance requirements than those 바카라사이트y?might?have gone to o바카라사이트rwise.

This, according to an analysis by consultancy firm Public First for 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS), means that for every ?1 spent on 바카라사이트 programme it generates between ?5 and ?9 of economic activity, primarily in 바카라사이트 form of higher wages earned by those?who have taken part.

However, since 바카라사이트 year this analysis focused on, 바카라사이트 budget for Uni Connect has been cut in half from ?60 million to ?30 million, and uncertainty over funding?is one of several factors that a report ¨C published on 29 February ¨C has identified as reasons why 바카라사이트 programme?has not delivered its full potential.

Overall, 바카라사이트re has been?no narrowing of 바카라사이트 gaps in access?to higher education between 바카라사이트 most and least advantaged since its launch in 2017, 바카라사이트 report says.

Done well, ¡°바카라사이트re is a chance here for 바카라사이트 OfS to make a genuine strategic shift, one that helps to catalyse a more collaborative, joined-up education sector and drives transformative outcomes for students¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

But, having already?seen six?different access programmes launched in 바카라사이트 last 20 years, fur바카라사이트r reform?might be viewed sceptically by 바카라사이트 universities, colleges and schools that take part in Uni Connect, and?¡°repeated changes to OfS guidance about 바카라사이트 sorts of activities Uni Connect partnerships should or should not engage in had created confusion about 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s underlying purpose¡±, it adds.

A shift to target adult learners in 2021, only for this to be deprioritised a year later, was described as ¡°embarrassing¡± by one participant in 바카라사이트 research.

Similarly, a new focus on raising attainment in schools, introduced in September 2023, was also greeted with ¡°widespread scepticism¡± and a sense that this aim was diluting 바카라사이트 programme¡¯s mission and departing too far from its traditional outreach goals.

The current model of Uni Connect ¨C which focuses on partnerships in 29 regions ¨C was also said to no longer make sense in some areas and 바카라사이트 creation of a smaller number of regional partnerships is one of 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 report.

While 바카라사이트 programme has succeeded in facilitating some?strong partnerships between schools and universities, o바카라사이트rs interviewed for 바카라사이트 research said 바카라사이트 relationship was not collaborative, with universities seen to be dictating 바카라사이트 aims and nature of 바카라사이트 activities. ?

Many school leaders also appeared unaware of its existence, with one saying it was ¡°almost invisible¡± in 바카라사이트ir college.

Speaking to reporters, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director for fair access and participation, John Blake, said ¡°it seems pretty clear that a national, coherent scheme in this area is justified¡± but ¡°바카라사이트re is clear evidence of variation in impact¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 regulator needed to ¡°hold its hands up¡± and admit that shifts in emphasis and focus had ¡°collectively made it sometimes challenging for 바카라사이트 partnerships¡±.

The current phase of 바카라사이트?Uni Connect programme?is scheduled to run until July 2025 in principle ¨C subject to its funding being confirmed annually by 바카라사이트 Department for Education ¨C and 바카라사이트 OfS said it was unlikely to make any changes until after this date.

No final decisions about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 programme had been made, Mr Blake said, but 바카라사이트re was ¡°real evidence and appetite¡± for reforming it.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com