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HESA puts university above the benchmark

Published 8 June 2009

Figures released this week by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that the university is continuing to attract students from diverse backgrounds with the percentage of young, full-time degree students from state schools increasing to 92.9 per cent. This is above the location adjusted benchmark set by HESA.

The figures have also revealed that the percentage of young, full-time students from lower socio-economic backgrounds has also increased this year, for both degree and undergraduate entrants, to 30 per cent, whilst participation from low-participation neighbourhoods has increased to 9.9 per cent for young, full-time degree entrants and 11.2 per cent for young full-time undergraduates. These percentages are all also above the HESA location adjusted benchmark.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Laing said: "The university is pleased that its policies and actions to increase the number of well qualified applicants from across all walks of society are continuing to be successful – with a 12 per cent increase in applicants for entry for this September. This is due to the breadth, quality and clear economic and social relevance of our courses. Students understand that a University of Brighton degree provides an excellent foundation for personal success, especially in the new and more challenging economic times we are now entering."

Professor Laing continued: "We are fully committed to leading in widening participation in education across the county of Sussex and beyond. University of Brighton courses are delivered by a network of partner colleges across Sussex. We also manage the University Centre Hastings and are lead partners in the Aimhigher Sussex project, working with schools and colleges to raise aspirations and achievements of young people. This supports students with no family history of higher education."

The university is also addressing outreach and social enterprise through its Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP), which recently won the Times Higher Education Award for 'Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community'. The university secured funding in 2001 to run the Widening Participation Summer School that is now a bi-annual event. Over 50 school pupils attend the week long university 'taster', aimed at families where no immediate relative has had the opportunity to go to university and to help them decide whether university life is right for them.