The University of Worcester has been shortlisted for University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards.
The Awards recognise best practice and innovation and celebrate excellence and achievement among organisations across the UK working to improve social mobility.
It is the third time Worcester has been shortlisted in the awards.
Professor David Green CBE DL, the University’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards. We hope that this year, it will be third time lucky and we will win!
“Our University is deeply committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity. Over two decades ago, we pioneered our ‘whole university approach’ to providing inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. We are delighted that so many others have followed. We are committed to helping individuals to make the most of their own potential by providing the opportunity, support and expert guidance to earn a valuable, respected qualification whilst gaining the skills, knowledge and know how need to go on to rewarding, worthwhile careers. This virtuous circle of achievement has huge benefits for society, as well as individuals.”
Worcester’s MP Tom Collins added: “I am delighted that our very own university has been shortlisted for this award. Breaking down the barriers to opportunity for every person, whatever their background, is a vital mission for our country and a deep passion for many of us in the city. I know that the staff at the University of Worcester really live out this value, they deserve to be recognised, and I wish them all the very best in the judgement of the awards.”
Casey Bailey has both an undergraduate and postgraduate degree from the University of Worcester and is now an Assistant Head Teacher in a secondary school.
He said: “My time studying at Worcester and my continued involvement with the University has opened doors for me that I would never have believed possible.”
He continued: “Coming from a working-class background, with no graduates in my family before me, it’s hard to picture how different my life would be if I hadn’t had the experience that I had at the University of Worcester.”
The University was described in its 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework report as “an engine of opportunity – supporting its students to benefit from an educational experience that is personally transformative and allows them to succeed in their chosen career”. Worcester is widely recognised as one the UK’s most inclusive universities.
Throughout the 21st Century, more than 97% of Worcester students have come from state schools. Earlier this year, the latest official Government assessment of Longitudinal Education Outcomes found Worcester to be number one for sustained employment and/or further study five years after graduation (excluding specialist institutions) – highlighting the strength and real-world relevance of a Worcester education.
Worcester’s work also made it number one in the UK for Quality Education in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2024, which are based on the United Nations’ globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals. The UN’s Quality Education Goal is to ‘Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’.
In December 2023, the University was among the winners of the Purpose Coalition’s Breaking Down Barriers Awards, winning the award for Goal 14 - Achieve Equality Through Diversity and Inclusion. The previous year the University won the award for Goal 1 – Strong Foundations in the Early Years, for its efforts to drive social mobility through educational opportunities for children.
Worcester’s impact on high quality education extends well beyond its own campus.
Worcester trained teachers work in well over 1,000 schools in the wider region. In 2023 the Ofsted inspection report which resulted in the current officially ‘Outstanding’ grade for Worcester opened by saying: “Trainees benefit from an exceptional learning experience at the University of Worcester. This experience instils in them a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference to the lives of the children and young adults in the communities they serve. Leaders pay serious attention to transforming trainees into passionate teachers who are determined to raise the aspirations of the pupils, students and learners they teach.”
The University is committed to developing facilities that are open to the community, raising aspirations from the earliest age to aid education, inclusion and break down barriers to opportunity. These include The Hive, Europe’s first integrated university and public library which has hosted more tens of thousands of visits from schoolchildren and supported more than 4,700 adults with community learning and developing vital job skills.
Earlier this month the University announced the creation of 100 additional places for people to train to become teachers, in light of the new Education Secretary’s plan to boost teacher recruitment.
If you are interested in finding out more about teacher training, email study@worc.ac.uk or visit: https://www.worc.ac.uk/campaigns/train-to-teach-worcester
The winners of the UK Social Mobility Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on October 3rd.