Go Higher West Yorkshire: debut newsletter!

Welcome to the first issue of the GHWY Newsletter, bringing you updates on our work, events and sector news straight to your inbox. We'd love to hear from you too - if you have any news, stories or events you'd like to share, please get in touch.

Change at the Top: a thank you and welcome

All at Go Higher West Yorkshire would like to sincerely thank Professor Margaret House, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, for her years of service and dedication to our partnership in her role as Chair of the Board.

Margaret's successful stint saw GHWY (as HEART) through two 'National Networks for Collaborative Outreach' projects, which paved the way for our highly-regarded 'National Collaborative Outreach Programme' and innovative 'Degree Apprenticeships Development Fund' activity. Margaret has very ably supported our organisation to navigate changing waters, and we are glad that she remains a much-respected member of the Board.

We are also delighted to formally announce that Tracey Lancaster, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Leeds Beckett University, has been inducted as the new Chair of our Board. Tracey brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise, and we look forward to working with her on new challenges for our partnership.

This week it's National Care Leavers' Week and we've just launched our refreshed Care Leaver Covenant. Don't forget to share it and talk about it with your networks!

Stand Alone Pledge

We're excited to be developing our collaborative Stand Alone Pledge over the next academic year. It's aimed at students studying without family support to raise awareness of any provision available; enabling them to succeed in higher education.

The pledge is part of our ethos that no-one should be limited from accessing and succeeding in higher education because of their background.

Read more

The Impact of Family Estrangement

Work by the GHWY partnership to develop a collaborative Stand Alone pledge has been backed-up by a new research paper.

Estranged young people (18-24 year olds studying without the support and approval of a family network) have been highlighted as a vulnerable group.

Next month its Estranged Students Solidarity Week and we'll be raising awareness across the partnership.

Degree Apprenticeships on the rise in West Yorkshire

Partners are gearing up to deliver an increased number of degree apprenticeships across our region.

This has been made possible through the 'Driving Social Mobility through Degree Apprenticeships' project.

The aim was to create new high quality degree apprenticeships, establishing capacity and expertise to deliver them, and making broader educational opportunities available to learners. Read more

We're all winners!

University of Bradford Summer Experience Awards

A Successful University / Business partnership in the spotlight:

The achievements that student interns have demonstrated in the workplace and the benefits they've brought to their host organisations are celebrated by Alison Hedley, Employer & Placement Services Manager.

Read more here.

Help leading experts shape policy on degree apprenticeships for social justice in higher education and employment

Bridge Group Seminar on Degree Apprenticeships

Following on from GHWYs collaborative project developing degree apprenticeships (DADF2)

When: Wednesday, 23 January 2019
2pm-4pm
Where: Central London (TBC)

The seminar presents a real opportunity to help leading experts shape this area of policy. Attend this event and contribute to the debate on how we can ensure that degree apprenticeships are widely accessible to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds and that they lead to equal graduate outcomes.

More information and book

How to Successfully Deliver Degree Apprenticeships and Vocational Education

UVAC NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2018: for Practitioners led by Practitioners

When:Thursday, 22 November 2018
9.15am-5pm
Where:Manchester

Plenary sessions include where next for degree apprenticeships; and what 16-19 qualifications reform and T-levels means for HEI, admissions, widening access and outreach.

Delivered by the University Vocational Awards Council.

More information and book

From elsewhere around the web...

'A Degree of Confusion over apprenticeships'. Blanket use of the term 'degree-level apprenticeship' for all higher-level programmes is misleading, writes Sam Parrett

'Trio of Appointments Strengthen LeedsBid Board'. One of these appointments,Tracey Lancaster, deputy vice chancellor at Leeds Beckett University is also chair of GHWY's Board.

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