Call for Papers

Summer Symposium 2020

NEON would like to invite the submission of research papers and examples of best practice for the NEON Summer Symposium 2020.  The event is now in its eighth year and regularly attracts over 200 delegates. This year our two-day event will be held on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th of June at the University of Exeter.

The theme will be:

 “Let’s work together – how can students shape the future of widening access”

We will examine the priority placed on involving students, both prospective and existing, in the design, delivery and evaluation of widening access & participation at the strategic and operational level. How can we ensure more effective, equal partnership with the beneficiaries of widening access initiatives and that the student voice becomes a key part of the work which is carried out across the whole student lifecycle?

During the two days, we will be discussing the importance of partnership working in order to both widen access to higher education (HE) and to support students from under-represented groups through HE into employment.  We will hear from key figures from the education sector talking about why the student voice is important, and we will discuss the challenges of engaging students in a productive way that enhances the work we do and ensures that their needs are being met.

 
We are seeking research papers/best practice examples that focus on the above theme. More general papers covering any area of access & participation work are also welcome.

We will seek to combine papers into interesting and stimulating sessions, the outcomes of which will be captured by NEON and used to inform our agenda going forward into 2020-21.

 

Presenting at the NEON Summer Symposium will have a tangible outcome for presenters i.e.:
  • Informing the agenda and work of NEON 
  • Inclusion in the NEON Resource Room 
  • Sharing your institution’s/organisation’swork with a broad range of delegates
  • Presenting at the largest UK conference that focuses upon widening access

We would particularly be keen to receive paper proposals which focus on students and how their relationship perspectives, experiences and skills but will consider proposals on all aspect of access and participation. We would also really welcome papers that evaluate the effectiveness and/or impact of access and participation initiatives using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Strategy:
  • National Collaborative Outreach Project – developing sustainable models of partnership;
  • Developing partnerships to evaluate the impact of widening access work across the student lifecycle;
  • Developing institutional approaches to constructing and delivering Access and Participation Plans (APPs);
  • Strategic approaches to widening access across the student lifecycle;
  • Embedding widening access within institutional policy.
Pre-entry and transition:
  • Developing sustainable partnerships with schools and colleges;
  • Widening access by improving attainment in schools and colleges;
  • Helping prospective students to make informed choices in higher education;
  • Facilitating progression of under-represented groups to higher education;
  • Innovative admissions procedures to ensure access is transparent and fair;
  • New routes into HE and Higher level/degree level apprenticeships;
  • Engaging with all target groups – We would particularly welcome papers that focus upon Gypsy, Roma Travellers, Asylum Seekers, Children of Military Families, and other groups that are becoming more important in widening access work.
The undergraduate experience:
  • Higher Education in Further Education;
  • Supporting learners with alternative qualifications;
  • Innovations in learning and teaching in working with students from under-represented groups;
  • The use of data to support innovations in student retention and success;
  • Supporting care leavers through higher education;
  • Inclusive learning and teaching for students with disabilities.
Student outcomes:
  • Using technology to improve student outcomes for those from under-represented groups;
  • Improving student outcomes for learners from BAME backgrounds;
  • Student services and improving student outcomes for those from under-represented groups, particularly those with disabilities;
  • Discipline based approaches to improving outcome of students from under-represented gro‎ups;
  • University careers provision and widening access work;
  • Working with widening access students to improve degree outcomes and employability;
  • Widening access to postgraduate studies.
General
  • Impact evaluations on access and participation initiatives.
  • Progression to and through higher education work that focuses on intersectional issues in access and participation
  • Sessions that incorporate oral input from students on access/participation work

 

Paper presentations should be between 15-20 minutes in length with an additional 10 minutes allocated for further questions. 

Please note: all presenters of the Summer Symposium are required to sign up as an attendee and attend the two day conference – click here to book.

If you wish to submit a paper or workshop proposal please submit a 500 word abstract by filling the word document – click here to download – and send to neon@londonhigher.ac.uk. The initial closing date for submissions is Friday 3rd of April 2020.

 

The NEON Summer Symposium – the event for widening access professionals you can’t afford to miss