Dedicated underrepresented groups in HE area launched on website
Resources that support teachers and advisers who work with students from underrepresented groups (URGs) can now be accessed on a dedicated area of Go Higher West Yorkshire’s (GHWY) website.
The URG in Higher Education (HE) webpage makes it easier for professionals to locate resources that relate to disability and wellbeing support, care leavers, estranged learners, and young carers.
The resources and activities have been specifically designed to support learners from URGs to make informed choices about their progression to HE and to experience an improved equality of opportunity when at HE. Targeted activity is important because URGs tend to have lower educational outcomes than their peers due to the additional barriers many have to overcome.
Access the URG in HE area of our website.
Resources relating to Males on Free School Meals and Black, Asian and Minoritised ethnic learners will be added to the area over the coming weeks.
Available resources
The available resources include our free e-learning for HE staff to understand and support disabled students. The training is designed to help participants to support students who come into HE or who are diagnosed with a disability during their time in HE. It offers practical tips and advice that student-facing staff can implement.
The page also signposts to our innovative Care to Go Higher CPD programme. The free CPD-certified training programme is designed to empower people who influence young people currently or previously in care (or transitioning out of care) to help them make informed HE decisions.
Also available is our Estranged Student Pledge. This collaborative document collates the support, information, and top tips offered by our members to those studying without the support of a family network. Updated annually, the document eases the burden on individuals who would otherwise have to navigate multiple websites.
The webpage also links to student voice videos that illustrate the challenges of studying while being a young adult carer (someone under the age of 25 who helps to care for a family member, relative or friend). They include information about support and reasonable adjustments available to young carers within HE.
Many of the resources were produced as outputs of our Uni Connect programme and our URG Networks, which bring together individuals from our 13 HE members to help reduce inequalities in HE access and success.
