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Teesside widens access, improves retention

01 October 2004

 

The University of Teesside has again demonstrated its ability to manage the balancing act that the Government is seeking from higher education. More people from working class communities are enrolling on its courses and more young degree students are continuing in their studies.

The results are revealed in the latest UK Higher Education Performance Indicators published today (30 September, 2004) by the Higher Education Statistical Agency (Hesa).

They show that Teesside is:-

One of the top performing universities in England in terms of widening access. (The percentage of young first degree students from areas with low participation in higher education rose from 23.9% in 2001/02 to 26.2% - the second highest figure for an English university. The proportion of state school students, at 95.5%, is again towards the top end for English universities.

And, despite its diverse student intake, Teesside is making good progress in the number of young full time first degree entrants continuing studying or qualifying following their year of entry. (Teesside's figure rose to 88.5% - up 0.5% on the previous year and 2.5% better than two years previously. This is less than 1% below the national average and one of the best levels of performance amongst the new university sector).

Both improvements were welcomed today by the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Henderson, who said: "These national indicators show that Teesside is meeting, or, indeed, in many cases exceeding the benchmark targets set for it by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

"This is very encouraging and demonstrates that we are continuing our track record of success in both widening access and increasing student retention. It's our intention to build on this by attracting more students to Teesside and producing the necessary growing numbers of talented graduates to help regenerate the Tees Valley," said Professor Henderson.

The improvements at Teesside follow a range of initiatives to support both the recruitment of local sixth form and other further education students and a retention strategy that is gaining widespread acclaim for promoting good practice, particularly in supporting students through their crucial first year at university.


 
 
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