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Uni Connect (NCOP) - Linking London Update

Our strong start to the year continues in October. With the exception of LSEC, we are still waiting to receive enrolment data for the new Year 1 learners (or Year 12s) from all colleges, but that is to be expected. In any case, the OfS is keen to see a focus this term on Year 2 (Year 13s), especially in relation to personal statements and other aspects of the UCAS application process, and our Engagement Coordinators and Officers have been allocating their time accordingly.

All support provided by HEI partners so far has been online, in a variety of formats including live streams, group sessions, one to one, and mentoring. In terms of target numbers, we are currently working based on the target that was set last year, of 286. We hope to receive confirmation from the OfS very soon, of not only the number but also the precise nature of which learners are included in that group, in light of recent guidance and the fluctuations in college recruitment.

Across all hubs partners and the Engagement Coordinators have supported with Personal statements on a one to one basis which the students have been really grateful for. In Hub 1 the 1-1 Support Officer has provided CV and personal statement support to students and continued making introductions and catching up with learners. Portfolio advice has been provided by Ravensbourne, as well as subject specific sessions on Business being live streamed into classrooms by Middlesex. In Hub 2 at Coulsdon there have been lots of face to face and virtual catch ups with students, personal statement support as well as talks provided by Middlesex, St Mary’s, Ravensbourne, Greenwich and UAL, as well as SEN support and careers meetings to discuss progression options. In Hub 3, Middlesex and St Mary’s have delivered a range of subject specific sessions especially around health sciences, and the Engagement Coordinator has provided IAG, personal statement support, apprenticeships advice and one-to-ones.

Centrally, we’re pleased to be organising further focus groups, having collected some great qualitative data from the last one in the summer. Next month we should be able to share with you the summary report of the post programme survey, but headlines look really positive, with increases in confidence and knowledge across the board.

We have begun work on a series of guides aimed at parents and carers, around the theme of employability, that will aim to address concerns and knowledge gaps related to the post-lockdown job market. We will also soon be publishing an up to date student finance guide for parents and carers. Our successful Get Creative At Home project from July is being submitted as a case study to the OfS and you can take a look at our colourful snapshot posters here.

We are saying a fond farewell and good luck to Amelia, the Engagement Coordinator working across Havering FE college and Barking and Dagenham College, as she goes on to take up a great role at one of our partners, Pearson. We welcome the return of Sarah, Programme Manager, who is coming back from maternity leave this week.

Outreach Hub update

Our Access to HE Diploma Package launched on October 19th and consisted of eleven pre-recorded videos, produced by our university partners, to support Access to HE students at the beginning of their UCAS application journey – over 130 people, students and staff, registered to receive this package and you can find all the videos here. We also held a live Q&A with three student ambassadors from partner universities to answer student questions which went well. We will be compiling some of their top tips into a resource for students. Our bulletin continues to highlight online outreach activities, you can see past issues here and subscribe here. All of our resources can be found on our website here. As always, if you have any questions or requests for support, do get in touch with Jess or Melanie.