Idea: Encourage ethnic minorities to apply to university

 
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  • Created on: 30 Mar 2007
  • Idea status: Just a thought
  • Town: Brent, London
 

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What it's all about

In London the diversity of backgrounds of students attending university can mask the fact that in other universities ethnic minorities students do not make up a large enough proportion of the entire student body. This cannot continue. Not only does this an attitude that people of ethnic minorites don't go to university, it discourages them from applying.

What's needed to make it a reality

What its all about?

In London the diversity of backgrounds of students attending university can mask the fact that in other universities ethnic minorities students do not make up a large enough proportion of the entire student body. This cannot continue. Not only does this an attitude that people of ethnic minorites don't go to university, it discourages them from applying.

What can make it happen?

I do not want to encourage positive discrimination to create the right balance. Instead we should be encouraging people of ethnic minorities to apply to university. I think there should be a nationwide scheme that goes into schools particularly in diverse areas and gives talks and one-to-one counselling with young people of ethnic minorites. This should run from a younger age than sixth form, say 14 onwards before GCSEs, so they can see that if they work hard and achieve good results they can go to any university.

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Comments

  • Avatar B 16:04, 30 March 2007 Hey Rob,

    There is a really interesting news artiicle on the Guardian website:
    http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityaccess/story/0,,1653573,00.html

    check it out - it is really relevant to your idea!
  • Avatar Make pie not war... 16:06, 30 March 2007 Wow, I think thats a very good idea. Being a minority myself I've noticed my fellow ethnic classmates dropping out of higher education at a very fast rate. Also I'm seen among my family and friends as something of an anomaly because its not very often that a black boy makes it to university...hopefully things will change *makes a fist and puts it the air*
  • Avatar Ella 16:11, 30 March 2007 This sounds like a great idea Rob and I'm sure it's the kind of activity that lots of people would like to get involved in.

    Most Universities have "Widening Participation" departments which are funded to try and encourage those who do not traditionally attend University to do so. You could maybe get in touch with your University's department to see what's already going on, to either get inolved yourself or get some inspiration for your own project.

    Once you've done this I suggest you get a bunch of people together to maybe brainstorm some ideas - people always say 2 brains are better then 1! You could maybe speak to some of the societies that already exist and see if they want to help out.
  • Avatar MICHELE 19:03, 22 October 2007 Hi Rob,
    This is Michele i have a similar idea for graduates, i thought we could share ideas and join the scheme as the next step.
    If you are interested drop me an email to partyangels03@yahoo.co.uk with your contact details.
    Thanks Michele
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