Prepare to Succeed: Better student outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Learners in London

AccessHE was awarded £71,000 of HEFCE funding under the previously active National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) initiative for a project exploring the specific information, advice and guidance (IAG) needs of students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups.

The aim of this project was to improve access to and success in higher education for BAME groups. The project, entitled Prepare to Succeed: Better student outcomes for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Learners in London, involved 8 AccessHE Member HEIs conducting small focus groups with current students from BAME groups across the capital. These students were asked about issues including:

• Extent of IAG received pre HE and by whom
• Importance of formal and informal information sources
• How subjects were chosen and when
• Expectations of HE study and realities
• Level of preparation for HE study
• Key features of HE study
• What would have been important to know pre HE, when and how it could be delivered

Smaller groups of students were established to, using the analysis gathered from the initial focus groups, co-produce a suite of IAG support activities which were trialled in schools at the start of the 2016/17 academic year. These projects aimed to improve knowledge-based decision making and the access and success of students from BAME groups.

Since the close of this project, AccessHE member HEIs continue to use its findings and outputs to inform the work of the BAME Forum.

For further information please contact us.