Expenditure on Additional Access and Retention Measures. 4.1 The relevant latest available HESA performance indicators show that UCL has a low number of students from under-represented backgrounds. The indicators show that UCL has 65.3% of its intake from state schools, 17.5% from lower social class, 3.8% from low participation neighbourhoods and 1.4% from families with no previous higher education and from low participation neighbourhoods. 4.2 In terms of applications from UK domiciled students, in 2009/10, 17.8% of known applicants were from SEC groups 4-8 and 5% from POLAR Group 1. Whilst the number of applications from under-represented groups is low, the numbers represent an increase on previous years. 4.3 Retention at UCL is very high with the latest HESA data indicating non-continuation following year of entry at 3.2% and projected outcomes at 89.8%. 4.4 UCL has made some positive steps towards improving access and its retention of students is excellent. However, it recognises that within its intake cohort there is a relatively low proportion of students from under-represented groups. 4.5 As such, UCL will seek to spend approximately 30% of its additional fee income on access commitments, including outreach activities, scholarships and bursaries. Once fully implemented, this will amount to approximately £8.2 million of OFFA countable funding being spent per year on access measures. 4.6 Under the previous Access Agreement, UCL committed to spend an additional £350,000 on outreach activities. In 2009/10, UCL spent approximately £370,000 of additional income in this area. However, the vast majority of additional income is spent on bursary provision. In 2009/10, this amounted to just over £5 million. 4.7 In addition to the current commitment, for 2012/13 UCL intends to spend an additional £830,000 on activities. So from 2012/13 UCL will commit to spend an estimated £1.2 million from additional fee income on outreach activities. 4.8 Over £100,000 of the new additional fee income will be spent on retention including £14,200 on new activities. Over £80,000 of non-additional fee income is currently spent on retention activities through the UCL Transition Programme and this will continue. 4.9 UCL will participate in the National Scholarship Programme and spend over £2 million on the first year intake in 2012. The vast majority of funding will go to students from families with a household income under £25,000. The proposal contained in this Agreement, when fully rolled out over the student life cycle of the 2012 intake cohort, will amount to approximately £7 million being spent on financial measures. 4.10 UCL acknowledges the need to move the emphasis towards activities rather than financial measures. However, there is recognition that this change of emphasis will take time. It is important that new outreach activities are adequately evaluated as they are rolled out to ensure that they are delivering on required outcomes. As such, for this transitional period and as additional capacity within UCL‟s Outreach department is built up, UCL will continue to invest significant amounts of the additional fee income in financial measures. 4.11 For future years, UCL is considering the introduction of a foundation programme. Such an activity needs to be scoped in detail and an appropriate financial model put in place prior to any formal commitment from UCL. A feasibility study on the introduction of a foundation programme will be undertaken in the coming year. Other activities, such as increased collaboration with other institutions, will also take time to explore, develop and introduce. It is anticipated that future UCL access agreements will see a further increase in monies spent on activities as opposed to financial measures.
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Sources: Access Agreement
Expenditure on Additional Access and Retention Measures. 4.1 The relevant latest available HESA performance indicators show that UCL has a low number of students from under-represented backgrounds. The indicators show that UCL has 65.3% of its intake from state schools, 17.5% from lower social class, 3.8% from low participation neighbourhoods and 1.4% from families with no previous higher education and from low participation neighbourhoods.
4.2 In terms of applications from UK UK-domiciled students, in 2009/10, 17.8% of known applicants were from SEC groups 4-8 and 5% from POLAR Group 1. Whilst the number of applications from under-represented groups is low, the numbers represent an increase on previous years.
4.3 Retention at UCL is very high with the latest HESA data indicating non-continuation following year of entry at 3.2% and projected outcomes at 89.8%.
4.4 UCL has made some positive steps towards improving access and its retention of students is excellent. However, it recognises that within its intake cohort there is a relatively low proportion of students from under-represented groups.
4.5 As such, UCL will seek to spend approximately 30% of its additional fee income on access commitments, including outreach activities, scholarships and bursaries. Once fully implemented, this will amount to approximately £8.2 8.8 million of OFFA countable funding being spent per year on access measures.
4.6 Under the previous Access Agreement, UCL committed to spend an additional £350,000 on outreach activities. In 2009/10, UCL spent approximately £370,000 of additional income in this area. However, the vast majority of additional income is spent on bursary provision. In 2009/10, this amounted to just over £5 million.
4.7 In addition to the current commitment, for 2012/13 UCL intends to spend an additional £830,000 970,000 on activities. So from 2012/13 UCL will commit to spend an estimated £1.2 1.34 million from additional fee income on outreach activities.
4.8 Over £100,000 of the new additional fee income will be spent on new retention activities, including £14,200 on new activities. Over £80,000 of non-additional fee income is currently spent on retention activities through the UCL Transition Programme and this will continue.
4.9 UCL will participate in the National Scholarship Programme and spend over £2 million on the first year intake in 2012. The vast majority of funding will go to students from families with a household income under £25,000. The proposal contained in this Agreement, when fully rolled out over the student life cycle of the 2012 intake cohort, will amount to approximately £7 7.5 million being spent on financial measures.
4.10 UCL acknowledges the need to move the emphasis towards activities rather than financial measures. However, there is recognition that this change of emphasis will take time. It is important that new outreach activities are adequately evaluated as they are rolled out to ensure that they are delivering on required outcomes. As such, for this transitional period and as additional capacity within UCL‟s Outreach department is built up, UCL will continue to invest significant amounts of the additional fee income in financial measures.
4.11 For future years, UCL is considering the introduction of a foundation programme. Such an activity needs to be scoped in detail and an appropriate financial model put in place prior to any formal commitment from UCL. A feasibility study on the introduction of a foundation programme will be undertaken in the coming year. Other activities, such as increased collaboration with other institutions, will also take time to explore, develop and introduce. It is anticipated that future UCL access agreements will see a further increase in monies spent on activities as opposed to financial measures.
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Access Agreement