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The work of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Access and Widening Participation team is underpinned by evidence to ensure that activity, practice and policy are impactful and fit for purpose. We have staff dedicated to research, policy and evaluation, with several key aims in relation to these areas of our work:

• Evaluation and research based practice, to update and maintain appropriate activity and practice which demonstrates impact
• Carrying out research and evaluation to develop an institutionally specific evidence base
• Contributing to the national agenda by producing and funding original research

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Our research team is responsible for developing and undertaking research relevant to objectives of the access and participation plan, addressing issues specific to ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº, while taking opportunities to contribute to the national agenda.

Activities include:  

• Research into areas of specific importance to ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº, including an evaluation of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº bursary, informed by developed by the Office for Students. 
• Sharing research findings within ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº, and contributing to a wider knowledge base. In addition to running two ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº research seminar series, we collaborate with on their seminar programme, which aims to bring together academics and practitioners with an interest in widening participation and educational equality. 
• We work with external organisations, and other departments across ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº. Examples include: 
  • Research into the higher education experiences of care-experienced students with the Thomas Coram Research Unit
  • The Teacher Action Research Project with the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº London Centre for Leadership in Learning 
  • The Verbal Feedback Project with the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº London Centre for Leadership in Learning and

Evaluation of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº bursary

During the 2017/18 academic year, we conducted research into the impact of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº bursary, guided by toolkits from the Office for Students. This included statistical analysis of the outcomes of bursary-holders, a survey to all bursary-holders, and interviews with students who had received a bursary. A broader levelling effect in student experience was evident in the data. Emerging themes included that the bursary assisted with living costs, and that for some, it encouraged increased engagement in extra-curricular activities, societies and international experiences.