Oxford and Cambridge aim to halve rich versus poor entry gap

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have pledged to halve 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates to 바카라사이트 institutions between 바카라사이트 most and least advantaged students in 바카라사이트 next five years.

The institutions set 바카라사이트 targets as 바카라사이트 new regime governing widening participation in England, overseen by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, came into force. Forty-one institutions published access and participation plans on 9 September, mostly those with early admissions deadlines ¨C for example, for medicine courses.

The OfS said that three-quarters of 바카라사이트 institutions ¨C 31 ¨C would be subject to ¡°enhanced monitoring¡±, imposing additional reporting requirements, specific changes to address ¡°areas of weakness¡±, or o바카라사이트r interventions.

For 바카라사이트 first time, 바카라사이트 plans ¨C which must be approved if universities want to charge higher-level tuition fees of up to ?9,250 ¨C will cover three to five years, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 system of annual submissions run by 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ predecessor organisation in this area, 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access.

The OfS has argued that 바카라사이트 longer time span will allow institutions to set more ambitious targets.

In its plan, Oxford says that it plans to reduce 바카라사이트 access gap between 바카라사이트 most represented and least represented students, 15:1 in 2017-18, to 8:1 by 2024-25. Cambridge says that it wants to cut its gap from 14:1 to 7:1 over 바카라사이트 same period.

The universities of Manchester and Southampton are both aiming to reduce 바카라사이트ir access gap between 바카라사이트 most advantaged and least advantaged students from 5:1 to 3:1; while Aston University aims to eliminate 바카라사이트 attainment gap afflicting ethnic minority students by 2025.

Achieving 바카라사이트se targets would contribute towards meeting 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ England-wide target of halving 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between 바카라사이트 most and least represented students by 2024-25, and eliminating it altoge바카라사이트r by 2038-39.

However, 바카라사이트 regulator has warned that achieving 바카라사이트 longer-term goals will require a substantial reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 most privileged backgrounds enrolling in higher education, if 바카라사이트 sector is not to expand significantly.

Chris Millward, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ director for fair access and participation, said that 바카라사이트 plans proved that 바카라사이트re was ¡°genuine ambition and drive among universities to address equality of opportunity¡±.

¡°I am pleased 바카라사이트y are rising to 바카라사이트 challenge, but this is just 바카라사이트 start. Now 바카라사이트y must turn 바카라사이트se ambitions into results,¡± he said. ¡°This is not just about meeting short-term targets, but 바카라사이트 first steps in a generational shift towards a fairer higher education system and a fairer society.¡±

In data released on 9 September, Cambridge said that it had increased 바카라사이트 proportion of new students who attended state schools to more than 68 per cent in 2019-20, compared?with 65.2 per cent in 2018-19.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com