MEDEV

School of Medical Sciences Education Development

HEFCE are inviting applications to join a widening participation (WP) reference group. This is a newly convened group that will offer advice to HEFCE management in the operational areas of policy and process development. The deadline for applications is noon on Wednesday 4 April.
 
They are seeking individuals with an interest in WP policy and practice in higher education, including those with experience of managing programmes aimed at outreach and progression into HE, for example Aimhigher and Lifelong Learning Networks.
 
These are fixed-term appointments for two years. They particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, including disabled people and people from an ethnic minority background. We expect to recruit up to 10 people initially, but may invite further members to ensure a broad profile of experience.
 
Group members will not receive any fee for participating, but we will pay reasonable travelling expenses for meeting attendance.
 
To apply, send a one page statement explaining how you fit the membership criteria set out in the terms of reference below. Applications should be sent to Mary Gazzard at m.gazzard@hefce.ac.uk by noon on Wednesday 4 April. Applicants can expect to hear from us by late April.
 
Terms of reference for the Widening Participation Reference Group
 
Background
 
HEFCE’s strategy statement, ‘Opportunity, Choice and Excellence in higher education’, confirms HEFCE’s commitment to widening participation, setting out the necessity of building on the success achieved to date and reflecting that widening participation is vital in creating a fairer society, securing improvements in social mobility and supporting economic growth.
 
As part of its strategy, HEFCE will monitor the effects of the new financial system to ensure that new initiatives on access and student support deliver these objectives, providing a renewed focus on the whole life-cycle of higher education – from pre-entry, through admissions, study support, successful completion at undergraduate level and progress on to further study or employment.
 
Aim
 
We wish to establish a WP Reference Group of 15-20 people which will offer advice to HEFCE about the operational aspects of our WP policy as it develops to support the above objectives.
 
The group will:
act as a sounding board for HEFCE WP policy
offer advice from the practitioner’s viewpoint in relation to policy development, and implementation and design of research projects
respond from time to time to requests for information about institutional approaches or responses to policy
meet up to three times a year to discuss planned policy development and offer advice to HEFCE about operational design.
 
Relationship to HEFCE’s Widening Access and Participation Strategic Advisory Committee (WAPSAC)
 
The WP Reference Group will offer advice to HEFCE management. It is not a sub-group of WAPSAC. However, it will be chaired by a member of the Advisory Committee and advice or views of the WP Reference Group that have helped to shape policy development will be reported to WAPSAC where appropriate.
 
Membership criteria
 
People who can offer the following may be invited to join the group:

• an interest in the national development of WP policy and practice in the HE sector
• knowledge and understanding of WP practice in HE and FE
• current and direct experience at managerial level of WP practice and policies in their institution
• current and direct experience at managerial level of student support and retention
• recent experience of managing programmes aimed at WP outreach and progression into HE, for example Aimhigher and Lifelong Learning Networks.

 
First meeting
 
We expect the first meeting to take place in May 2012. Meetings will be held in central London or Bristol three times a year.
 
Enquiries
 
If you have any questions about the group e-mail Clair Murphy.

For further infomation: c.murphy@hefce.ac.uk

Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) | 22 March 2012