This national project initiated by the National Union of University Students in Finland is based on the rationale that improving study ability impacts positively on employment outcomes and well-being. Student representatives and academic staff have been supported to run workshops on study ability.
A partnership between Canadian and Kenyan Universities and NGOS supports refugees in Dadaab, Kenya into gender equitable teacher training diplomas. The programme has ‘stacked’ discrete elements which result in internationally recognised qualifications which can contribute to a full degree.
The Pre Academic Programme (PAP) at the Erasmus University Rotterdam is a new programme of summer courses aimed at first generation students (140 per year). The programme helps student navigate university life with practical skills (e.g. academic writing, critical thinking) and fosters a sense of belonging and self-awareness.
The Junior Academy aims to include children in higher education and give them a realistic but guided approach to Higher Education. The theoretical setting is based on the concept of the pedagogy of excellence. The target group are 5th and 6th grade pupils who might encounter difficulties entering academia.
The Schools Network Access Program (SNAP) is an access scheme developed in 2001 to enhance the access of students from designated Victorian secondary schools to Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and University programs at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). SNAP is based on an evaluation by the secondary school of students’ potential and capacity to succeed and a student statement supported by a range of outreach activities, folio preparation scholarships and capability building at the school level. The main target group are students from low socio-economic background. The scheme has shown good outcomes: in 2014, 1,415 students from over 100 SNAP partner schools started their programs at RMIT through the SNAP priority access scheme and SNAP students are represented across 98% of RMIT programs.
I Belong is a program of on-campus experiences for SNAP secondary school students designed to grow aspiration for tertiary education. I Belong offers an innovative approach to discipline exploration through applied workshops, presentations from industry experts and peer-delivered transition modules for students attending selected SNAP partnership schools.
The UTS U @ Uni Schools Outreach program is a key component of the UTS Widening Participation Strategy which provides a whole-of-university approach to increase the number of students from under-represented communities successfully completing university study.
Developed in 2009, the UQ Young Achievers Program supports the tertiary study and career aspirations of motivated secondary school students from low-income families who might not otherwise have access to university. Key activities include mentoring; on-campus experiences; information on university study options, pathways and application processes; opportunities for personal growth; and financial assistance. Since 2009, more than 480 Young Achievers have been supported by the programme, which shows a high level of success in facilitating participation in higher education of students from low-socio-economic backgrounds.
The Manchester Access Programme (MAP) is The University of Manchester’s (TUM) social mobility programme for Y12/13 students in Greater Manchester. It is highly targeted at talented post-16 learners from backgrounds currently under-represented in higher education and aims to support them into TUM and other research-intensive universities, thereby contributing to enhanced long-term employment prospects and social mobility.
Through a system of mentoring, students who have difficulty with harder subjects are assisted by students who have already successfully completed the course.
