Educational Outreach
Working in partnership with local schools, community organisations and outreach networks, the project welcomed young people from diverse backgrounds to explore a range of academic disciplines, engage with university staff and students, and gain first-hand experience of higher education.
By reducing barriers to participation and increasing familiarity with university life, the programme aimed to build confidence, raise aspirations and support participants in making informed decisions about their future educational pathways.
The project demonstrated the value of collaborative outreach and inclusive programme design in creating meaningful opportunities for individuals who may not otherwise have considered higher education as an achievable or accessible option.
Background
Student voice has become an important area of higher education research, particularly in relation to inclusion, wellbeing and student experience. For marginalised students, lived experience can reveal forms of need that are not always visible through formal university systems, surveys or standard support categories.
These experiences may include navigating uncertainty, disrupted education, financial and legal pressures, cultural transition, emotional wellbeing and the challenge of feeling recognised within institutional spaces. Including marginalised students helps prepare and engage students before they enter the new landscape, preparing them for the new environment.
At PRA, we believe that every individual should have the opportunity to explore higher education in a way that feels relevant, accessible and achievable.