Oxbridge: Not Just a Pipe Dream Judith Welikala Provides a Unique Insight Into the Oxbridge Debate
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IN THIS ISSUE Oxbridge: Not just a pipe dream Judith Welikala provides a unique insight into the Oxbridge debate. Widening participation should be everyone’s business Mark Allan, Chief Executive of The UNITE Group, discusses the broader benefits of tackling the UK’s social mobility issues. Insight An update from the charity’s newest regional centre, IntoUniversity Bristol East. aspireJUNE 2013 | ISSUE 2 Oxbridge: Not just a pipe dream The first time I heard the term ‘Oxbridge’, and had an IntoUniversity mentor. As a result, I And I can say with confidence that I have never I was watching the Boat Race on TV aged 5, was put forward by IntoUniversity for an Arnold noticed anyone’s background affecting other thinking I was looking into another world. Foundation scholarship at Rugby School. Before students’ perception of them. Flash-forward 15 years and I was watching long, I was a student at one of England’s most As for me, when I first arrived at Cambridge the Race again, this time from the banks prestigious public schools. I had a brief foray into rowing as a cox, though of the Thames, as a Cambridge student Until then, I’d kept my thoughts on Cambridge the early mornings and my inability to steer the supporting my university. to myself. But at Rugby, it could be talked about boat meant I didn’t last long. When the time But the journey in between has not been so openly. That’s not to say students were under came for the next Race, I was much happier straightforward. My fascinated 5-year-old self any illusions about how difficult the admissions cheering from the sidelines. asked my 12-year-old cousin whether we’d process would be. The difference was that I may not have been cut out for rowing, but I did ever get the chance to study at Oxbridge. Oxbridge, for the first time, was presented as an have the most incredible 3 years at Cambridge. Judith Welikala His response was, “I don’t think they’re for people attainable goal, not just a pipe dream. I immersed myself in a subject I loved, made Judith is a postgraduate like us.” I’m sure he’d take back his words now, but But most young people won’t be in the incredibly wonderful friends, and found a hobby I was Investigative Journalism student it was a sentiment that stuck with me for years. fortunate position I was at such a critical junction actually reasonably good at - writing for the at City University. While at Access to Oxbridge is a well-trodden and much in my life. Oxbridge continues to be seen as student newspaper. I enjoyed it so much, school she took part in a range of IntoUniversity’s programmes argued subject, though what is universally agreed an unrealistic ambition, which for many bright, I eventually became co-editor-in-chief, and I’m and is now an Undergraduate upon is that there are still not enough students hard-working students just isn’t the case. However now completing an MA in Investigative Journalism. Mentor to a Year 9 student from state schools, especially from lower-income there doesn’t necessarily need to be a seismic That’s not to say that every high-achieving at IU North Kensington. She families, applying. I’m certain many young people shift to change someone’s mind. My alma mater, student should aim for Oxbridge. Some might previously studied History at the still feel the way I once did. Pembroke College, helps to run a residential want to study courses that they don’t offer, such University of Cambridge, where At school, I discovered a passion for history. summer school for high-achieving students from as Dentistry or Sports Sciences. Others might she edited The Cambridge When I later began to think about university, schools that don’t typically send students to prefer the atmosphere of larger campus-based Student newspaper. She has I was amazed by the breadth of the history course Oxbridge. It was how three of my friends from universities. written for the Independent Pembroke first visited the college. on Sunday, TIME.com and The at Cambridge, and the concept of one-to-one There are many reasons why young people Island, an English-language supervisions. But the world of dreaming spires, At the Open Day I attended, one tutor directly might decide that Oxford or Cambridge are not newspaper based in Sri Lanka. gowns and garden parties seemed far removed addressed claims that the university is elitist. She the right universities for them. Worrying that they from my childhood in Wembley, where few said that absolutely it was, but clarified that it was are not from the right background should not be students aspired to go to university at all, let academically elitist. It wanted the brightest and one of them. alone to one of the best universities in the the best students. But she was adamant that an world. I wondered whether I would ever fit in. applicant’s background does not matter. You can hear from Judith talking about her Those nagging doubts might have prevented I can’t speak with any great authority, but from experience of volunteering for IntoUniversity me from applying, were it not for a decision my own observation, state school students have in our new volunteering film, which can be that irrevocably transformed my life. I’d been thrived just as much as their privately educated found at www.intouniversity.org attending several IntoUniversity programmes peers, both academically and socially. 11/06/2013 19:16 aspire | IntoUniversity | June 2013 Widening participation should be everyone’s business The Trustees and staff of IntoUniversity As well as an annual donation to are to be praised for making Higher If children with real IntoUniversity, we run a bursary Education a reality for some of the most scheme which provides both cash and disadvantaged children in our society. potential are denied these accommodation for young people who This is far more than just good works, opportunities because of would otherwise find it difficult to access it is also of vital importance to our Higher Education. Our business is providing economy and essential to us as a society. the social circumstances homes for students, so with our university partners we prioritise students for whom In this article I explore the many into which they were born, ‘home’ is especially important. This includes reasons that the UNITE Group supports then this is clearly unfair. young people who have been in care or IntoUniversity, and why our aim is to invest are estranged from their families, who £1 million per year into tackling educational Mark Allan This goes beyond mere numbers, though have been homeless, or have other issues disadvantage in the UK by 2015. Chief Executive, The UNITE Group the million+ report is able to put a value that make a space they can call their own to graduate contribution to the economy. Mark was appointed to the As the UK’s largest student accommodation significant. For some it is the simple fact role of Chief Executive of UNITE provider, we are in constant touch with It is about the kind of society we want of having a quiet space in which to study, in September 2006, having students from all backgrounds. We to be, and the harnessing of all available which has not previously been possible previously served as Chief see every day the effort they put into talent to solve the economic, social and because of their living circumstances. Financial Officer for three years. achieving a degree, and the sacrifices ecological challenges of the decades ahead. There are many reasons why children He joined UNITE in 1999 and they are prepared to make to achieve It is also about the diversity of these may not fulfil their potential and none held a variety of positions in their goal. For many, going to university graduates. As an employer, as well as a of them are acceptable. It is everyone’s the business before joining was never a straightforward choice citizen, I want to know that we are allowing business to help change this, not only the Board. As Chief Executive, and for some there were times when Mark has overall responsibility all our children to reach their potential, because it is the right thing to do, but also it didn’t seem like an option at all. for UNITE’s strategy and not just those from the more advantaged because it is the logical thing. By giving business performance for And yet a higher education is quite backgrounds; I want to know that I can find young people a chance, IntoUniversity and its stakeholders. He began literally life changing. It provides a unique skilled and talented people with a myriad of other successful widening participation his career at KPMG where opportunity for intellectual development different perspectives and experiences that programmes are helping to develop a he qualified as a Chartered and wider enrichment, and is the key that will add strength to my team; I do not want new generation of leaders and this is Accountant and spent five unlocks the door to so many valuable to stand by and see potential not realised. years specialising in corporate the best investment I can imagine. finance. Mark is a leading figure and interesting careers. A recent London For these reasons I wanted UNITE to be in the student accommodation Economics report for university think able to make a real difference in tackling There are many reasons sector and has a particular tank million+ states that a degree adds educational disadvantage.