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Unlocking Lockdown’: Bucks hosts Study Higher Annual Conference 2020

Unlocking Lockdown’: Bucks hosts Study Higher Annual Conference 2020

As the new academic year begins, Buckinghamshire New University is proud to host this year’s Study Higher Annual Conference, ‘Unlocking Lockdown: Practical approaches to moving university outreach forwards’, which will be held virtually this Friday, 25 September, 10am-3.30pm.


Study Higher a consortium of four universities (Bucks New, OxfordOxford Brookes, and Reading) describes the start of the new academic year as “an opportune time to consider how – as a sector – we are able to modify our practice to better access and retain Widening Participation students.” With a new wave of inequalities emerging for disadvantaged students during the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s conference will focus on practical methods of widening participation in a post-pandemic world.

Speakers from institutions such as the Office for Students and National Union of Students will join the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Braisby, Provost and Deputy-Vice Chancellor, Professor Gavin Brooks, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Digital, Professor Elizabeth Cleaver, with talks centred on the strategic factors that will need to be addressed in higher education going forward.

Deputy-Vice Chancellor and Chair of the Study Higher Board, Gavin Brooks, commented:

“I am delighted that Buckinghamshire New University is serving as the venue for the third Study Higher Annual Conference.

"The consortium of four universities and associated colleges that comprise Study Higher has worked tirelessly over the past three years to support and provide a significant number of opportunities for disadvantaged students in our region to attend university and benefit from higher education.

"This Conference brings together some of the leaders in access and participation within the UK and provides an opportunity for exchange of ideas and experience of how we can support disadvantaged students through the transition into, and progression through, higher education. I hope as many of you as possible will register for, and attend, this important Conference.”

The virtual event is free to attend, and information regarding the agenda and registration can be found here.