Widening Participation: Preparing Students of Diverse Backgrounds for Higher Education

Abstract

This research project will aim to investigate what Staffordshire University (SU) is doing in order to encourage and support underrepresented students whom have the potential to benefit from Higher Education (HE). In particular this work will focus on how effective the SU (2013a) Step Up to HE University Foundation Certificate course is at supporting mature students towards a Level 4 qualification. The findings of this project will determine if there are any further actions the author can apply to their own practice in order to improve the level of support given to these students.