UCEM’s Access and Participation Plan approved by the Office for Students

Posted on: 17 October, 2019

UCEM’s plan to tackle equality gaps has been approved by the Office for Students (OfS).

The institution was part of the second group of education providers to have their Access and Participation Plan approved, taking the total to 109 out of the 223 English providers to have had their plans approved.

UCEM’s application was considered as part of the group deemed by the OfS to generally already have higher number of students from underrepresented backgrounds accessing higher education.

Jane Fawkes, UCEM Deputy Principal, commented: “I am pleased that our plan to ensure access, success and progression to either employment or studies for underrepresented groups in the UK has been approved.

“With our core student community comprising mature students and the work we do in catering for disabled students, it’s doubly pleasing that the OfS recognised this in the assessment of our plans to increase widening participation, for the next five years, which is part of our new Vision and Strategy.

“There is more work to do, however, and our Access and Participation Plan is focused on increasing access and success for those from lower-socio economic groups and BAME students on our programmes. This, sadly, is a reflection of the lack of diversity which currently exists in the Built Environment but offers us an opportunity to boost diversity, both in higher education and within industry.

“Our Access and Participation Plan is linked to our core purpose ‘to provide accessible, relevant and cost-effective education, enabling students to enhance careers, increase professionalism and contribute to a better Built Environment’ with the ‘accessible’ part of that statement being very relevant. Our aim is to provide opportunities for study to as many people as possible and I am confident our plan will help with that.”

Have a read of the Access and Participation Plan for more.