Moving Online – Taking outreach into the digital age

NEON Summit

COVID-19 has caused all of us to radically change both the way we access learners and deliver content. Over the past year higher education has had to adapt its outreach to reach learners from widening access backgrounds in more innovative ways and develop new approaches to evaluating such work. This one day summit will consider the progress that has been made over the last twelve months and how the work invested in digital outreach can reap benefits as we move forward over the coming years.

Keynote speakers include:

• Jon Baldwin, Managing Director of Higher Education, JISC
• Sarah Howls, Head of Access & Participation Funding and Programmes, Office for Students
• James Kewin, Deputy Chief Executive, Sixth Form Colleges Association
• Carys Fisher, Senior Policy Executive, UCAS
• Kizzi Keast, Access and Outreach Manager, University of Reading
• Dr Jon Rainford, Associate Lecturer, Open University
• Chloe Warsop, Senior Student Recruitment Manager, The University of Law
• Dr Antoine Rogers, Codirector – Urban Scholars Programme, Brunel University London

Please see below for the agenda. More speakers to be announced shortly.

During the event, delegates will:

• Understand why digital outreach should now be considered a key aspect of widening access to support advice, guidance and the progression of learners from under-represented groups.
• Engage with key policy makers.
• Discuss strategies to take forward digital outreach.
• Reflect on current progress and the implications for future outreach work, both regarding the access to learners and the delivery of content.
• Share best practice to inform future approaches.

This event is suitable for:

• Vice-Chancellors and other members of Senior Management Teams with responsibility for widening access;
• Heads of Widening Access/Widening Participation and members of their teams;
• Heads of academic subjects who are keen to develop their approaches to outreach;
• Other education professionals with an interest in the digital engagement of learners;
• Heads of Further Education Colleges or staff with responsibility for progression;
• Heads of Schools or Sixth Forms.

Agenda