Join the Equity in Education Research Network to explore the risks to equity in education through a day of expert insights and open discussion.

Agenda for the day:
10:00-10:20 Opening session
10:20-11:05 Building Skills, Measuring Impact: Evaluating Embedded Skills Provision
11:05-11:20 Break (Tea/coffee provided)
11:20-12:00 Pathway to Bath Programme
12:00-12:40 University Work Placements: Barriers to Participation for Underrepresented Groups
12:40-13:20 Lunch (provided for registered attendees)
13:20-14:00 If I had a White mentor at the time, would she be able to relate to me? 14:00-14:45 Closing the Loop: Turning Evaluation into Action
14:45-15:00 Closing session 15:00-16:00 Networking (tea/coffee provided)

Talk descriptions:

Building Skills, Measuring Impact: Evaluating Embedded Skills Provision

This session looks at the early stages of a collaborative evaluation project reviewing embedded academic, digital, and employability skills in undergraduate study. We'll share what has been developed so far, reflect on progress and invite participants to engage in "what if" scenarios to imagine how the project could shape student learning and employability outcomes.

Pathway to Bath Programme

Pathway to Bath is a six-to-eight-month multi-stage widening participation initiative designed to address key risks to equality of opportunity among under-represented Year 12 students. These include gaps in prior knowledge, sense of belonging, and lack of support. Combining online academic enrichment, guidance, and a residential experience, the programme aims to strengthen students’ confidence, academic self-efficacy, and readiness for higher education. Evaluation findings show significant gains in students’ HE knowledge and sense of belonging, with 75% of project completers applying to University of Bath compared to lower rates among non-participants. The presentation will explore these findings in relation to programme design and development, providing insights into the value of structured, sustained engagement in promoting equitable access to higher education.

University Work Placements: Barriers to Participation for Underrepresented Groups

In this project, we explored the barriers that students from underrepresented groups face in accessing work placement opportunities. Using surveys, focus groups and interviews, we identify key challenges – such as financial concerns, lack of awareness, and limited support – and offered evidence-based recommendations to improve access and equity. In addition, our analysis of university registry data highlighted the effect of a placement on later degree outcomes and how this is particularly impactful for students who receive a bursary, providing further guidance for future policy.

If I had a White mentor at the time, would she be able to relate to me?

This presentation explores qualitative research with former participants of the University of Bath’s Target Bath Widening Participation programme, which supports students from Black heritage backgrounds in their transition to higher education. The study examines how the programme influenced their move from sixth form to university, focusing on the value of culturally relevant support. Findings highlight the importance of representation within programme leadership and across the wider university environment, and reveal how perceptions of diversity, educational quality and social media shape university choices. The session also identifies factors influencing academic performance and offers recommendations grounded in students’ lived experiences to strengthen widening participation initiatives for the global majority.

Closing the Loop: Turning Evaluation into Action

This session looks at how evaluation can drive change in Access and Participation practice. Exploring the University's recent work to embed Theory of Change and strengthen monitoring and evaluation of Access and Participation supporting work, it examines how insights are being used to reflect, adapt, and improve interventions.