A new scheme which aims to double the proportion of disadvantaged young people going to university is being led in Lincolnshire by Bishop Grosseteste University.

BGU is at the head of a consortium of Lincolnshire universities and colleges which has successfully bid for a share of £60 million per year to rollout the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) over the next four years.

Funded by HEFCE, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the scheme aims to double the proportion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education by 2020, increase the number of students in HE from ethnic minorities by 20% and address the under-representation of young men from disadvantaged backgrounds in HE.

The LiNCHigher project, which will involve young people from across the county, will deliver tested approaches to outreach through schools and local communities, as well as develop innovative ways to meet the specific challenges the county faces.

These activities will build upon and provide a boost to existing outreach work taking place across England.

A large-scale evaluation programme will measure the impact of the programme from the start, and the aim will be to build a powerful evidence base to ensure that investment is concentrated in activity that is shown to be the most effective.

“We’re delighted that our bid to lead this exciting project has been successful,” said Professor Jayne Mitchell, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Bishop Grosseteste University.

“We will be working together with colleges, universities and our network of schools to meet the education and skills needs in Lincolnshire.

“The LiNCHigher project is designed to raise aspirations and support Lincolnshire’s young people to achieve their education goals. It will make a real difference to young people’s lives, and by investing in higher education we will help to improve the social and economic prosperity of the whole county.”

In leading this programme BGU will build on its already successful track record and reputation for providing opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study and succeed in higher education.

In a recent survey of BGU’s student population, 84% said that they identify with one or more of the following groups which all fall under the definition of ‘widening participation’: disabled, BME, mature, low-income background, low-participation neighbourhood and male.

Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln is also ranked third among UK universities for student employability. According to the latest Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, published by HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency), 97.2% per cent of students who leave BGU with an undergraduate degree find work or are continuing to study six months following graduation.

The LiNCHigher project will be formally launched as part of the national NCOP programme on 24^th January 2017 and run from 2016/17 to 2019/20.

BGU’s other consortium partners are the Bishop Burton College, Boston College, the College of West Anglia, Grantham College, Grimsby Institute, Lincoln College, Lincoln University Technical College, New College Stamford and University of Lincoln.

Notes to editors:

• Bishop Grosseteste University was established in January 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln which awards its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012.
• BGU has over 2,300 students, including undergraduate, postgraduate and research, with over 280 students at collaborative partners across Lincolnshire.
• To learn more about Bishop Grosseteste University visit www.bishopg.ac.uk
• To find out more about NCOP visit http://www.hefce.ac.uk/sas/ncop/.

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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