How to widen participation in outward study abroad mobility

Tuesday, 07 November 2017

Katherine Allinson, a Policy Researcher at Universities UK (UUK), will talk about her report on Widening Participation in Outward Study Abroad Mobility at the University this week.

The report, released in August, looked at the extent to which disadvantaged students spend time abroad as part of their undergraduate degree.

The talk has been organised by Erasmus and Study Abroad Office and will take place on Wednesday 8 November at 1.00 pm in Edith Morley 126.

Across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), governments and higher education institutions are striving towards a collective ambition of 20% of graduates in the EHEA to have undertaken a study or training period abroad by 2020. To meet this goal, many countries have already begun to shift their focus from the numbers of students participating in mobility to the accessibility of these opportunities, exploring who participates and how students from under-represented groups are supported.

The UUK report highlighted five groups that are under-represented in mobility: students from low socio-economic backgrounds, students from low participation neighbourhoods, black and minority ethnic students, students with a disability and students who are care leavers.

It found that while the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds participating in outward student mobility is increasing; they are still under-represented compared to the whole student body.

As part of the research, UUK aims to produce a transferable toolkit of practical advice and case studies to help institutions across the EHEA develop effective strategies to increase the number of students from under-represented groups participating in outward mobility programmes.

The talk provides an excellent opportunity for colleagues to learn more about how to make studying abroad more inclusive and accessible to all students.

All staff are welcome to attend.