The University’s Educational Opportunities team has launched their programme of activities for 2015/16 under a new department name – Widening Participation and Outreach (WPO).
The WPO team delivers projects and activities to widen access for those students who are underrepresented in higher education, particular those learners from low participation neighbourhoods, disadvantaged and low income backgrounds.
The University team also looks to support looked after children/care leavers, disabled students, adult learners, young adult carers, refugee students, and students from ethnic minority backgrounds.
WPO deliver a progression curriculum of activities with a range of learners from Year 5 through to post-16, developing relationships with local schools, colleges and community groups to inspire, engage and enable those who would not traditionally consider higher education and fulfil their potential.
Key initiatives
The team co-ordinates the University’s Access Agreement which is the overarching strategy for widening participation at Liverpool. The latest version can be found here.
As part of its aims for the forthcoming year WPO will be working in partnership with faculties, the Guild, the VG&M and Professional Services to deliver effective outreach programmes as well as supporting and leading internal widening participation initiatives. WPO key initiatives for this year include:
Merseyside Young Medics – A rolling 3-5 year programme of Medicine and health-related activities and support for young people in Years 9-13 who are from under-represented groups and have the potential and interest in studying Medicine or health-related subjects at university.
Liverpool Supplementary Schools Network – Working closely with supplementary schools in Liverpool to arrange campus visits and drop in support for students and their parents from ethnic and cultural minority groups in the city.
Care-experienced young people – The WPO team provide a range of opportunities for care-experienced young people to engage with the University that are designed to raise awareness and aspirations of higher education as well as support attainment.
WPO staff seminar
WPO will be hosting a lunchtime staff seminar about the team and future projects on Thursday 29 October. If you are interested in attending and finding out what the WPO team can do for you please save the date and more information will be circulated shortly.
The annual report for Widening Participation at the University will be available in October.
More information is available at: www.liv.ac.uk/widening-participation.
You can also follow the WPO team on Twitter @livuniWP and Facebook www.facebook.com/livuniwp for latest outreach and community events.