Update from Annette Hayton, NERUPI Convenor

Dear NERUPI Members,

It was great to see so many of you on 1 October, the start of Black History month, at the online book launch for Culturally Sensitive Curricula Scales- click HERE for more information about the project and the book. On 8 October, we welcomed colleagues from a range of universities and partnerships to the first event in our 2024-25 General Events Series, Service Children and Their Educational Progression. Materials from this event can be found HERE.

WORKING GROUP PRESENTATION SESSIONS

Our Working groups are opening up some of their sessions making them open to all members. You can book on like a normal event for these mini-events which focus on a presentation followed by discussion.

DISRUPTING THE DISCOURSE: A BLUEPRINT FOR STUDENT VOICE EMPOWERMENT– 16 October book HERE Organised by our Student Voice Working Group this case study from Kevin J Brazant at London College of Communication (LCC) at the University of the Arts London, (UAL). The session will examine a research project that applied Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality within curriculum development creating a dialogic space for critically reflecting on learning and teaching practices.

REIMAGINING RECRUITMENT – 11 November- book HERE Organised by our Student and Staff Race and Ethnic Equity Group this session will focus on Professor Leda Blackwood’s research Reimagining Recruitment which examined why minority groups are not staying in academia. This research challenges 'leaky pipeline' and deficit explanations and offers a more dynamic understanding of how and why people are being excluded and the implications for intervention.

NEW WORKING GROUP: CREATIVE HE– 19 November 2.00 – 4.00 This first session or our new working group will centre on providing a context for the work we hope to focus on in the group. Two recent national reports State of the Arts and Making the Creative Majority will be introduced by Co-Leads James Rew (Leeds Conservatoire) and Tessa Read (University of the Arts London) which highlight challenges related to engagement with the arts both in education and more generally.

EVALUATION TOOLKIT SERIES

We have a great series of events lined up for those new to evaluation and for those with a bit more experience:

For those new to evaluation:

• DOING RESEARCH & THEORISING WIDENING PARTICIPATION - 15 October book HERE
  This session, for those new to evaluation or access and participation, will review approaches to research and evaluation, and it's role in tackling inequality and theorising widening participation and improving practice. It will include an introduction to NERUPI website resources, what's out there and how to find it.
• NERUPI TOOLKIT EVENT: THE NERUPI FRAMEWORK AND EVALUATION - 6 February. TO BOOK CLICK HERE
• EVALUATING RAISING ATTAINMENT - 24 June. TO BOOK CLICK HERE

For evaluators & programme managers

• DEVELOPING EVALUATION CULTURE & WORKING WITH PRAXIS TEAMS - 5 December. FOR MORE INFORMATON & TO BOOK CLICK HERE
• USING EVALUATION TO AMPLIFY THE STUDENT VOICE - 1 April. TO BOOK CLICK HERE
• IMPACT EVALUATION & CAUSATION; THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY - 10 June. TO BOOK CLICK HERE

GENERAL EVENTS

This year’s series of general events will explore the challenges faced by specific groups of students in higher education access, participation and progression with a focus on the groups identified by the OfS Equality of Opportunity Risk Register (EORR). We will take the opportunity to explore the issues in depth but will take an intersectional approach as well as giving space for NERUPI members to share examples of interesting practice:

• STUDENT CARERS – 11 December with Professor Marie-Pierre Moreau, ARU, Rachel Spacey, and practice examples from the University of Leeds and Oxford Brookes University. Click HERE for more information and to book.
• WORKING WITH BOYS & YOUNG MEN – with Alex Blower, Jon Rainford and practice examples from Sussex University and UEA

PEER EVALUATION COURSE

We are also taking expressions of interest for our popular Peer Evaluation Course which is a great CPD opportunity for evaluators and benefits organisations through reflection on their evaluation approaches, strategies and plans. CLICK HERE to find out more.

We are looking forward to working with you in the coming academic year.

All good wishes,

Annette and the NERUPI Team