BUILDING BRIDGES

Bridge building over the Irish Sea

LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY BOASTS A FOCUSSED AND PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL MOBILITY AND INCLUSION, WITH AN APPROACH SHAPED BY THE REGIONS IT SERVES.

It has recognised the social and economic difficulties facing the population in Liverpool and, over many years, it has developed strong links with the city’s community. This has put it in a position where it can encourage and equip young people lacking any family experience of higher education to consider it as a realistic option. This offers them the opportunity to improve not only their own prospects but also those of their city. It has also built a strong relationship with Northern Ireland, a region which has always had close links with the city of Liverpool. It has sought to understand the barriers that have historically prevented young people in Northern Ireland from considering the possibility of going to university. In addition, it has put in place a comprehensive support network for these young people so that they fully benefit from their time at Liverpool John Moores and have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Liverpool John Moores University’s approach to its Northern Ireland students serves as a reminder to all organisations that efforts to unlock the potential in disadvantaged areas are much less likely to succeed with an off-the-shelf approach. On the contrary, it recognises that the nuances of the communities targeted should be carefully considered, and all contextual barriers addressed. Liverpool John Moores’ tailored approach, which considers every element of the student journey and is underpinned by its own research, has demonstrated how effective it can be. The university has also delivered an object lesson in the vital importance of patience in driving a real transformation of outcomes in struggling communities. It believes that short term fixes are no substitutes for a thorough, longer term approach and its own embedded social mobility model has been two decades in the making. In building this, it has been able to draw on the wealth of experience it has acquired during its long history of supporting the working classes, particularly in Liverpool. But a central pillar of the model, supporting every other element, is the close bond which the university has forged with schools across Northern Ireland. These relationships have achieved an almost seamless flow between secondary and higher education, allowing Liverpool John Moores University, on the one hand, to access the potential in the region and, on the other, to help facilitate real change there. The university has a member of staff assigned to each secondary school and college across Northern Ireland, to support and provide expertise on university related matters throughout the year. Some 42.2 percent of students from Northern Ireland receive a bursary to help fund their higher education, a significantly higher figure than the 32.5 percent of all students at the university, reflecting the socioeconomic demographics of students from this part of the UK. Families, which have previously had no direct experience of university, are now proudly seeing sons and daughters graduating and inspiring others in their communities to do the same. The university has been careful to ensure that this social mobility success is no temporary phenomenon by conducting ongoing research, closely analysing the findings and making appropriate adaptations. Both Liverpool and Northern Ireland have been significantly affected by previous recessions and recovery has been slow. The extended economic and social impact has been hugely damaging to areas which were already home to some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. Liverpool John Moores University has taken a carefully considered and comprehensive approach to this issue to ensure that young people from these areas are less likely to be left behind in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. This provides resilience to their communities. The students, their schools and their parents are well-informed about each stage of university life. They are enabled to get a much clearer idea of what course will suit them, what will be expected of them when they are at university, what help is available for all the financial, practical and emotional issues that might arise and, finally, of the career options that may be available. About 100 student advocates are recruited each year as part of the university’s work to increase employability. Their duties include delivering taster sessions and supporting younger students. The role of Student Ambassadors – important in normal times but even more so during the pandemic - has been crucial in reaching out to potential students who value their lived experiences and advice. Liverpool John Moores University has established itself as a university that takes a pioneering approach to increasing social mobility. It has worked hard to break down the many potential barriers that hold back talent and has invested in supporting both staff and students to reach their full potential. It has put in place systems and processes to break down those barriers, especially around economic disadvantage, disability and gender bias. It is proud to have built bridges delivering opportunities directly into the communities that need them most.