The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2025
Supporters include:
Overview:
Disadvantages including race, gender and class play a significant role in shaping student experiences and outcomes in higher education. Challenges persist for disadvantaged students in higher education enrolment, academic attainment, social integration, and post-graduation outcomes. While higher education (HE) institutions are facing economic challenges, it is essential that they continue to provide and improve support for disadvantaged students.
- The gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students entering more selective universities has widened to the highest level on record (2024, The Independent)
- White graduates had higher employment/further study rates than all other ethnic groups and this gap increased with time since graduation (2024, DfE)
- The proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 15 who progressed to higher education fell from 29.2% in 2021/22 to 29% in 2022/23 for the first time (DfE)
Join us at The Supporting Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education Conference 2025 to hear from university leaders, charity sector professionals, and policymakers on key issues facing disadvantaged students and HE institutions. Key topics will include improving access to HE, reducing dropout rates for disadvantaged students, creating inclusive student communities and strategies for supporting disadvantaged students to ensure success post-graduation.
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Nathan Belgrave, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager, University of Manchester (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Understanding the Challenges Facing Disadvantaged Students: Progress, Setbacks and the Way Forward
- Overview the current landscape and the challenges in education for disadvantaged students
- How the IntoUniversity model addresses the challenges and is a model of supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed.
- The importance of collaborative partnership working in addressing barriers in communities (third sector, families, schools, universities)
- Ideas about the future – what from our model can be applied more broadly
Dr Emily Magrath, Director of Programme Development & Impact, IntoUniversity (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Providing Access and Participation Plans to Support Disadvantaged Students
- Strategies for creating effective programs that encourage disadvantaged students to realise their full potential
- Advice on engaging with parents and schools to ensure HE institutions are reaching the students who need it the most
- Guidance on providing students with support with applications to facilitate greater enrolment into HE institutions from disadvantaged students
Dr Andrew Ross, Head of Widening Access and Participation, University of Bath (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Supporting students from less advantaged backgrounds to get in and get on at university
- Enabling students to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to access university
- The role of parents and carers in widening access to HE
- Creating a bridge between school and university to enable a successful transition
Susie Whigham, Chief Programmes & Communities Officer, The Brilliant Club (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: The Intersectional Student: Being seen, heard and empowered to participate
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Contextualising the complex, intersectional experiences of students within the education system
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Understanding the compounded effects on global student recruitment, retention and success
- Utilise principles to guide developing policy and practice to enable student voice and participation
- Take action to developing good relations using the intersectional framework
Dr Arun Verma, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, University of London (CONFIRMED)
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Case Study: Strategies for Addressing the Awarding Gap between Ethnic Minority and White Students
- Moving away from the attainment gap and understanding the experiences of ethnic minorities in higher education that may lead to the awarding gap
- Practical strategies for closing the awarding gap: Policy, curriculum changes, and pedagogical approaches
- Best practice examples from higher education institutions closing the awarding gap
- Creating inclusive student communities that welcome diverse cultures and ethnicities
Dr Gideon Sappor, Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy, UCL Institute of Education (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Lunch Break & Networking
Breakout Networking: Using Holistic Programs to Promote Inclusive Student Communities
Keynote: The Role of Faculty in Empowering Disadvantaged Students in Higher Education
- Understanding faculty’s role in challenging biases, promoting diversity, and fostering an inclusive classroom environment
- Strategies to support disadvantaged students in academic success and personal development
- Guidance on advocating for institutional policies and practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Ensuring that intersectional experiences and voices are included in the curriculum
Dr Emma Roberts, Head of Law, University of Salford (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Helping Disadvantaged Students Secure Positive Graduate Outcomes
- Providing opportunities for students to explore their career options, and to raise their expectations on what is possible.
- Helping students own, and value, their story.
- Working with students during and after their studies to help them progress into professional employment or further study
Marc Lintern, Director of Student Employability and Employment, University of Portsmouth (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: The Importance of Mentoring in Facilitating Success in Academia and Employment
- Using mentoring to facilitate access to beneficial social and professional networks
- Guidance on connecting with alumni communities to develop strong mentoring programs
- Ensuring students feel empowered by providing mentors who share similar backgrounds and experiences to them
Lisa Shaw, Work Experience & Mentoring Lead (EDI), University of Birmingham (CONFIRMED)
Jennifer Mackey, Alumni Relations Manager for the College of Social Sciences and Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Bridging the Gap: Insights on tackling regional inequalities and promoting graduate outcomes
- Closing the gap between privately educated and state educated graduate outcomes by supporting students into highly skilled graduate roles
- Insight into our “RISE” programme and collaborating with Universities and our role as a “connector” to top employment opportunities
- A Regional Lens into disadvantage: key learnings and takeaways for regional institutions
Joe Hensey, Senior National Initiatives Manager, upReach (CONFIRMED)
Jozy Scott, University Partnerships Manager, upReach (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Conference Close
Nathan Belgrave, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager, University of Manchester (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Nathan Belgrave, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Manager, University of Manchester (CONFIRMED)
Get in Touch
Speakers
Dr Andrew Ross
Head of Widening Access and Participation
University of Bath
Susie Whigham
Chief Programmes & Communities Officer
The Brilliant Club
Dr Gideon Sappor
Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy
UCL Institute of Education
Lisa Shaw
Work Experience & Mentoring Lead (EDI)
University of Birmingham
Dr Arun Verma
Inclusion, Intersectionality & Impact Leader
Author of Anti-Racism in Higher Education
Testimonials
This was an excellent and thought provoking as well as inspiring day with excellent speakers. I would highly recommend it.
I found the conference very informative and inspiring for future action.
Great content, useful and purposeful talk from all the speakers.
The speakers were excellent and the topics were extremely informative.
Why You Should Attend
Why Attend:
✓ Hear high-level keynotes on the latest updates and guidance on supporting disadvantaged students
✓ Gain practical insights into how to implement effective support systems to ensure that disadvantaged students achieve academic success and personal development
✓ Engage with senior colleagues from the sector to discuss strategies for creating inclusive student communities
✓ Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Examples |
| Lecturers | Universities |
| HR Professionals | Colleges |
| Wellbeing Officers | Higher Education Institutions |
| Career Advisors | Charities |
| Senior University Staff | Civil Service/Government |
| Student Union Staff | |
| Admissions Staff | |
| Education Policy Professionals |
Pricing Options
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Voluntary Sector
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please get in touch below.
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
