University College Birmingham Strategic Plan - 2021-2024

13 12 WWW.UCB.AC.UK 2021–2024 STRATEGIC PLAN WE WILL: HOW? MEASURE OF SUCCESS Co-create futures alongside our students so that they have choice, confidence and ambition for their future careers and life choices. Strengthen the school and college pathways needed to ensure every young person finds their way Student access and recruitment through links with schools and colleges through partnership packages, agents, franchise partnerships, and articulations. • Creation of a refreshed UCB partnership package for UK partners. Signing up of at least 10 new partners to the package. • Progression or articulation agreements established with at least 20 UK institutions, generating at least 10 new students each. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS • Supports the University’s objectives in its efforts to comply with Condition A1 (Access) of our registration with the OfS Build and refresh our curriculum and, linked to this, to provide varied opportunities for work experience and future employment A coordinated programme of industry and employer engagement on curriculum design and a refreshed apprenticeship strategy. Provision of excellent, professional advice and information on careers, qualifications, courses, enterprise and entrepreneurship. Continue to deliver an ‘outstanding’ employability and work experience service to all UCB students. • All undergraduate students able to take a placement year as part of their course and/or are provided with opportunities for integrated workplace learning within a professional degree programme. • An increased number and range of high quality employers working with and supporting UCB students to achieve their career ambitions, particularly in new curriculum areas with regulatory or professional body links. • Apprenticeship qualification achievement rates comparable to those reached by full-time students. • Excellent graduate level employment or further study rates. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS • Supports the University’s objectives in its efforts to comply with Condition B3 (Quality – employer recognition) of our registration with the OfS ACCESS, EMPLOYABILITY AND MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS First and foremost, our partnerships start with our students and are for the benefit of our students. This in turn provides the momentum and purpose for all of our partnerships so that we strive to enrich our local and regional communities, improve the life changes and experiences of our students’ families and communities and drive our vocational programmes so that they deliver meaningful knowledge, skills and experiences for the future careers and life choices of all of our students. In all partnerships, we will aim to be strategic, collaborative, coordinated and seek to draw out mutual benefits. Student input into the development of these relationships will be a priority in all instances. WE WILL: HOW? MEASURE OF SUCCESS Achieve important and ambitious Access and Participation Plan targets to ensure that everyone who has the ability to succeed at UCB is given the opportunity to do so By implementing the aims and objectives in the University’s approved Plan and providing the associated significant financial support to which we have committed. • Reduction in the percentage difference in degree attainment (1st and 2:1) between White and Black students to 6 percentage points by 2024/25. • A gap exists in non-continuation rates between students who come from backgrounds of high participation in Higher Education and those who come from low participation backgrounds. This will be reduced for first degree undergraduate students to 0 by 2023/24. REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS • Supports the University’s objectives in its efforts to comply with Condition A1 (Access) of our registration with the OfS Open UCB to our local and regional communities making a sustained contribution to the development of skills, innovation, and confidence in the West Midlands Work with local and national authorities on both aligning our curriculum to skills priorities and ensuring that the rest of our offer is recognised for the life-changing skillsets it provides. Ensure that our students make a positive contribution to the local community through provision of services, volunteering, and being a good neighbour. Take advantages of opportunities to engage in Knowledge Exchange activities, particularly developing our relationships with businesses and industries relevant to our curriculum. • The University is established as a key partner in the Colleges West Midlands group. • Attendance at relevant local meetings. • Representation on local and regional decision-making bodies. • Ability to submit data for HE-BCI return.