At a House of Commons reception to formally launch the final report of the UPP Foundation’s Student Futures Commission, 20 leading universities, including Northumbria University have pledged to develop a Student Futures Manifesto – joint action between a university and its students to tackle the problems caused by the pandemic.
Developing a
Student Futures Manifesto is the key recommendation from the Commission. The
Manifestos will be a blueprint for how universities and students work together
to improve the student experience.
As part of the
Manifestos, Northumbria will co-produce and publish a series of actions within
the six themes the final report of the Student Futures Commission identified
for successful student futures:
1. Support for
students before they reach university
2. An induction into university life for each year of study
3. Support for mental health and wellbeing
4. A clear outline of the teaching students will receive and the necessary
tools to access it
5. Activities inside and outside the curriculum that build skills, networks and
communities
6. A clear pathway towards graduate outcomes
The manifesto
will be a public statement of the commitments the University is making, and
showcase the positive initiatives being undertaken. It will be co-produced with
students and led by a member of the university’s senior leadership who reports
directly to the Vice-Chancellor.
Commenting on Northumbria
University and the 20 universities which have already made the pledge, Chair of
the UPP Foundation Student Futures Commission, Mary Curnock Cook CBE said:
“A Student
Futures Manifesto, co-created and co-owned by students and their university,
will be a powerful expression of intent about what students need to support
successful lives and careers. They will help to rebuild the full student
experience through a partnership between universities and their students. It is
a testament to Northumbria University and the wider HE sector’s commitment to
successful student futures that 20 universities have already taken on this
challenge.
Richard
Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation – the charity which established the
Commission said:
“The UPP
Foundation established the Student Futures Commission to support the sector in
light of the disruption everyone has faced during the pandemic. We wanted the
Commission to be supportive, constructive and challenging. Student Futures
Manifestos are exactly this – a positive call to action to put student needs
first.
We are
delighted Northumbria University has made this pledge and expect many more
universities to do so in the months ahead.”
Professor
Graham Wynn, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) at Northumbria University, added:
“We are committed
to providing our students with all of the
support they need to excel during their
time Northumbria - right from the time they accept their offer
to study with us, through their studies, all the way to helping
them with the next stage of their career or study. We are delighted
to make the Student Futures Manifesto pledge and look
forward to working with our students on the next stages in its
development.”
