University of Huddersfield Campus Map Getting there and parking

Join us for a day of insightful discussions and networking at the Insights into Higher Education: Teachers’ and Advisers’ Conference, a collaborative event brought to you by a range of Higher Education (HE) providers. By working collaboratively, we aim to provide you with a broad range of information about all the future HE options for your students – from Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, to apprenticeships, and undergraduate degrees. This event will be held on Wednesday, 1 May 2024, at 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM at University of Huddersfield. Please share this widely with your contacts.

We are extending a complimentary invitation to professionals dedicated to guiding young individuals, such as teachers, advisers, youth workers, and local authority staff. Our conference offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into HE pathways and the support mechanisms available through our consortium of 13 members. This diverse group includes HE-in-FE providers, universities, and a small specialist provider.

The programme and details of the confirmed speakers are available below and we invite you to register for the conference using the link above. Stay tuned for updates on what promises to be an enriching experience for attendees. We hope that you will join us for the day!

Marketplace – come chat to our members during the day at various slots with confirmed stalls so far – Bradford College; University of Bradford; Calderdale College; University of Huddersfield; Kirklees College; Leeds Conservatoire; University of Leeds; Leeds Arts University; Leeds College of Building; University Centre Leeds; Leeds Trinity University; and University Centre Wakefield.

Programme

Please note: any 5 minute gaps in the programme are to allow time to move between the rooms.

Morning sessions

09:30 to 09:55   Registrations and refreshments – marketplace

10:00 to 10:10   Welcome – Prof Jane-Owen Lynch, Pro-Vice Chancellor at University of Huddersfield, Chair of GHWY Board

10:10 to 10:30   Keynote speaker  – Andi Brierley, Head of Access, Participation and Outcomes at Leeds Trinity University

10:35 to 11:05   Breakout session 1: Getting into HE – choice of the following:

• Art should be for everyone: helping students to get into the arts (James Rew, Access and Participation Manager at Leeds Conservatoire)
• Thinking outside the degree box: alternatives to traditional degrees (Jayne Kaye, Senior Senior Outreach Officer at University Centre Wakefield and Kirsty Sanderson, Senior Outreach Officer at Calderdale College)
• Clearing is not last-chance saloon: when students need Plan B (Luke Harwood, HE Recruitment & Outreach Officer at University Centre Leeds and Helen Linyard, Deputy Head of Admissions at University of Leeds)

11:10 to 11:30   Refreshments and networking – marketplace

11:35 to 12:05   Breakout session 2: How can we support you and your young people? Your opportunity to feed in. You will be allocated to a group on the day to discuss a selection of the following questions.

Support – How can HE providers better support your students transitioning from schools / colleges to Higher Education? What support do you want from HE providers, what can we offer to benefit pupils? 

Perceptions – Do you feel students’ perceptions of HE have changed since the pandemic? How do students and staff currently view Higher Education? Are there concerns about cost / value for money?

Choices – How the cost of living may be affecting students’ choices? Outreach: preferred types of outreach from HE providers; how/when schools/colleges plan outreach; barriers to planning etc.

Afternoon sessions

12:10 to 13:00   Student Panel 1: best thing about my HE provider. Hear about what students from a wide range of Higher Education providers love about studying at their institution. Each student will have 3 minutes to deliver a presentation. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during lunch.

13:00 to 13:45   Lunch and networking – marketplace

13:50 to 14:30   Student Panel 2: Q&A session. You will be invited to submit questions for our expert student panel in the run up to the conference.

14:35 to 15:05   Breakout session 3: Student Support in HE – choice of the following:

• School vs Higher Education: the support available for disabled students (Charlotte Glaves, Preparation for Adulthood Coach at Kirklees College and Carly Miller, Disability Co-ordinator at University of Leeds)
• Studying without a safety net: support for care-experienced and estranged students (Helen Sykes, Head of Go Higher West Yorkshire and Tahera Mayat, Collaborative Outreach Officer at Go Higher West Yorkshire)
• Closing the ethnicity awarding gap: supporting Black Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Students (Shames Maskeen, Lecturer in Psychology and Associate Director of The Race Institute at Leeds Trinity University)

15:10 to 15:30   Closing remarks (Helen Sykes, Head of Go Higher West Yorkshire)

Speaker details (will be added here as they are received)

Welcome: Jane Owen-Lynch is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) at the University of Huddersfield. She is Chair of the Board of Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY). Jane has a wealth of experience in Higher Education (HE) that has included student facing activities; development of international courses; and project lead for building projects. She also has a passion for gender equality within HE and research as demonstrated through support for Athena Swan.

Keynote: Andi Brierley is the Head of Access, Participation and Outcomes at Leeds Trinity University. Andi was previously the Child Looked After Specialist at Leeds Youth Justice System, safely reducing Children Looked After being unnecessarily criminalised. He spent time in care as a child himself and subsequently experienced school exclusion and childhood incarceration He has transformed these experiences into his writing, research and advocacy of those children living through similar life challenges.