What can higher education contribute to improving social mobility in the UK?

Conference call now open: What contribution can higher education make to social mobility in the UK from 2012-13 onwards? 26-27 March 2013, Manchester

• Students and academic staff (particularly those crossing national borders within the UK) are encouraged to apply for a HEA travel grant.
• If you are a student AND your proposal to conference is accepted but you are not awarded a travel grant, you will be automatically considered for one of our limited full-conference reduced rate places. (50% reduction).
• Non-affiliated applicants (i.e not affiliated to a University or a company employee/director) who have a proposal accepted will also be considered for a reduced rate place.

Higher education and social mobility
The Higher Education Academy is pleased to announce a two-day residential conference on 26 and 27 March 2013 at the Macdonald Manchester Hotel, Manchester City Centre to examine the contribution of higher education to improving social mobility. Higher education has undergone change in all four UK nations as the economy has declined and public sector spending has been reduced. Issues of social mobility, access, retention, attainment and progression however continue to be important across the UK, within higher education institutions, and for students, their families and society as whole.
2012-13 marked the beginning of significant changes to the higher education landscape, raising concerns about the future of access and equality within the HE sector and heightening existing fears about stagnating social mobility. The conference will include key note speakers, panel discussions, workshops, papers and posters designed to inform scholarly debate and provide practical ways forward. The conference is open to academics, HEI managers, educational practitioners and policy makers. We welcome a broad range of perspectives and methodologies to critically look at the question of what contribution can higher education make to social mobility in the UK from 2012-13 onwards. While topics not listed below are very welcome, possible themes include:

• How widening-access partnerships and collaboration can be adapted to a more competitive environment and whether new approaches and delivery models are required across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• The contribution of higher-education providers to improving the retention, attainment and progression of students especially those from lower socio-economic groups, disabled or black and minority ethnic backgrounds in all discipline areas;
• How more equitable access to employment, graduate careers and the professions can be achieved through higher-education pathways, including apprenticeships, study abroad and postgraduate study;
• The role of students in enhancing the quality and outcomes of the higher education experience for students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups;
• The actual and projected impacts of changes to the funding of higher education on access, retention, attainment and progression for students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups.
• The needs of part-time students in the current context, including support systems and pedagogy for flexible learning.

Submitting a proposal
The conference is inviting proposals for one or more of the following types of sessions: paper, panel, workshop or poster. Parallel sessions of papers, workshops and panels will run for one hour morning and afternoon on both days of the conference.  Posters will be displayed on both days, with time set aside for interaction and discussion between poster presenters and delegates.
PAPERS should report research findings, or discuss evidence-based practice, or critically assess policy or practice in relation to higher education and social mobility. Papers will be clustered and presented in shared sessions. (20 minutes including discussion per paper). Paper proposals should provide a description of the research and argument and indicate what literature or evidence they will be drawing on. Papers can have multiple authors but a chief author must be stated on the proposal form. Download the paper-proposal form. (145KB)
WORKSHOPS: We welcome proposals for workshop convenors. Proposals should provide a rationale and description of the workshop. Proposals should state how they will ensure workshops are interactive and involve participants. Workshops should be of interest and relevance to a broad audience and be able to cater to a maximum of 28 participants or fewer. Download the workshop-proposal form. (145KB)
PANELS: The conference will host a very limited number of panels. We welcome proposals for panel discussions focusing on a particular theme, problem or special interest relating to higher education and social mobility. Panel proposals must include a brief description and rationale for the panel, and a lead presenter or convenor who will facilitate statements or position papers from up to 3 panel members and a 15 minute panel discussion at the end of the session.  Proposals for panels must include the name of the panel convenor, and at least two panel members but need not, at this stage, include the abstract from panel members. Download the panel-proposal form (146KB)
POSTERS: should be A0 in size (portrait layout) and present summary information about your work in a visual or text format in a way that is of interest to the conference participants. Posters will be displayed throughout the conference, but you will be asked to talk about your poster during a networking session. Download the poster-proposal form. (145KB)
Please note that applications to contribute to the conference will only be considered if they have completed the relevant proposal form. To submit a proposal, download the relevant form above. Email your completed form to retentionandsuccess@heacademy.ac.uk by 12 noon,  Friday  30 November 2012.
If you are applying to be considered for more than one session (paper, panel, workshop, poster), you MUST complete an abstract form for each type of session you apply for.
What happens next?
We will acknowledge receipt of your submitted form. All proposals will be reviewed by two peer reviewers and the final selection of the successful contributions will be made by the conference organising committee. Abstracts will be judged on clarity, rigour, relevance and overall fit with the aims of the conference. The key contact or proposed convenor will be informed of the outcome by 12 December 2012. Please note: we cannot guarantee which day your session will be allocated to if accepted. The conference webpage will be updated on a regular basis http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/resources/detail/retention/Social_mobility. All enquiries to: retentionandsuccess@heacademy.ac.uk.