The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for two national awards in recognition of its work to widen access to higher education and to share its inclusive approach across the world.
The Guardian University Awards recognise some of the very best work taking place in universities across the UK.
Worcester’s work in the South West of England, in partnership with The Learning Institute has been shortlisted in the Widening Access and Outreach category. For the past 10 years the University and The Learning Institute have been working together to provide opportunities for students to become qualified in areas such as early years, learning support and child and adolescent mental health. Over 1,000 students have graduated and are now working to advance their schools, children and communities in some of the most isolated and deprived parts of rural England. The great majority of students are mature, female students very many of whom are mothers.
Teaching, course structures and timetabling have all been designed around the student’s needs. Classes are taught in accessible locations, such as community centres, and are held one day per week, during school term times, ensuring students can study around family and work commitments. This inclusive approach has been highly successful. Working together Worcester and The Learning Institute have found a truly effective way of overcoming the uneven geographical spread of universities, and created more opportunities to study part-time just when they have been sharply reduced nationally.
Nick Appleby, Director of The Learning Institute, said: “Through our partnership with the University of Worcester, we are determined to help build an infrastructure of resilience in communities suffering challenge. We work with students and families where there has been no experience of higher education to aid their capacity to change. By doing this it nurtures ambition and hope, and opens doors to new employment.”
The University of Worcester has also been shortlisted for the Guardian’s Internationalisation award, in recognition of its work to share its approach to inclusive physical education and sport across the world.
In the last seven years Worcester has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in inclusive sport. It was the first university to create a degree in disability sport and in the afterglow of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, which inspired the world, the University created the UK’s first indoor sports venue purpose designed to include the wheelchair athlete.
In the last 18 months the University has established key strategic partnerships across the world, including in Japan and China, where the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and Beijing 2022 Winter Games, afford a global opportunity in helping to create a lasting legacy for inclusive sport.
In 2018 the University of Worcester and World Academy of Sport (WAoS) launched a new initiative - the Global Physical Education/Sport Teacher Training Centre, to deliver inclusive sport education to teachers around the world. One of the first projects will be a programme for the IPC Academy, the global educational division of the International Paralympic Committee.
Professor David Green CBE, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that the valuable work of so many colleagues at the University to promote true inclusion and reach out to provide opportunities for people to learn, has been recognised through being shortlisted for these two awards.
“Both awards are based on our commitment to inclusion and the belief that everyone, no matter where they live, be that in a rural part of the UK or China, no matter what their background, their physical ability, gender, race or religion is, has a fundamental right to education and the opportunity to make the very best of their own potential. I am very proud of the wonderful, inspiring work by dedicated, imaginative, hard-working colleagues at Worcester. It is a true privilege to work with the Learning Institute in England and our partners across the world, with whom we share so many values and so much dedication and expertise.”
The awards will be announced during a special event in London on April 10.