The Office for Students (OfS) has welcomed the publication of an
independent report evaluating the effectiveness of Uni Connect.
The report, commissioned by the OfS and written by Public First,
calls for improvements to the programme, which brings together 29
partnerships of universities, colleges and other local partners
to offer activities, advice and information on the benefits of
higher education.
The review calls for reforms to Uni Connect, while retaining the
model of centrally funded collaborative outreach. Other
recommendations include:
· Operating a smaller number of
regional partnerships, which include representation from schools
and colleges
· Taking a more comprehensive
approach to evaluating the impacts of the programme
· The central delivery of some
functions to benefit the wider Uni Connect programme.
Alongside the evaluation, Public First have also produced an
analysis of the economic benefits of Uni Connect. This finds
that, in 2020-21, every £1 spent by Uni Connect led to between £5
to £9 of economic benefit. In the same year, the programme led to
an additional 2,350 university students, as well as an estimated
670 students who went to a university with higher entrance
qualifications than they may have done without additional
support.
Commenting, John Blake, director for fair access and
participation at the OfS, said:
“As this report shows, the Uni Connect programme has delivered
benefits to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students who
otherwise wouldn’t have accessed higher education have been
supported to do so, with others going on to universities with
higher entrance qualifications. As well as the life-changing
benefits higher education can bring for individuals, these
students will go on to make important contributions to society
and the economy.
“But it is clear from Public First’s thorough analysis that more
can be achieved. Despite the best efforts of the partnerships,
the programme as a whole could clearly be more efficient and
achieve greater success for more students. Careful thought needs
to go into how the programme is delivered by the partnerships,
managed by the OfS, and funded by government. The OfS will now
consider the recommendations in the report. I have already met
with the partnerships to share the findings of the review, and we
will continue to engage closely with them as we take this work
forward.
“I am grateful to all the Uni Connect staff who contributed
evidence to the review, in the form of survey responses and
interviews with Public First. They provided important feedback to
the OfS about how we can effectively manage these relationships
going forward. In reforming the programme, the OfS must
also ensure that we are effectively supporting partnerships and
providing clear strategic direction to their work.
“Uni Connect can – and does – play an important role in ensuring
that everyone with the talent to benefit from higher education is
able to benefit from it. In making improvements to the programme
we can ensure it is set up to have a positive impact into the
future.”
ENDS
Notes
1. The Office for Students is
the independent regulator for higher education in England. Our
aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background,
has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches
their lives and careers.
2. Uni Connect brings
together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges and other
local partners to offer activities, advice and information on the
benefits and realities of going to university or college. The
programme was set up in 2017 and supports our strategic goal that
students’ access to higher education is not limited by their
background, location or characteristics.
