The Widening Participation and Outreach Subcommittee (WPOS) is responsible to the University Learning and Teaching Committee. Its main aim is to oversee the delivery of the University’s Widening Participation and Outreach Strategy, as well as make recommendations on changes in relevant policy and practice, across the student lifecycle (recruitment, retention and employability).

Definitions

Widening participation (WP)
WP refers to activities and interventions designed to improve the rates of participation among those groups under-represented in HE. These groups can include: students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, students with disabilities, students with experience of local authority care and students from certain minority ethnic groups (MEGs).

Outreach
Outreach refers to any activity delivered by the University, on or off-campus, to schools, colleges and in the local community for the promotion of the University and HE in general. These activities include, mentoring, tutoring, revision classes, taster days, residential courses, lectures and general information, advice and guidance (IAG). While these activities are offered to a wide-range of beneficiaries, aspects will target those who have persistently low rates of participation in higher education.