A group of student dicussing work and smiling.
A group of student dicussing work and smiling.

UWL pledges to secure successful student futures

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The University of West London (UWL) is among 22 universities to have backed a pledge to develop a Student Futures Manifesto - joint action between the University and students to tackle the problems caused by the pandemic.

Developing a Student Futures Manifesto is the key recommendation from the UPP Foundation’s Student Futures Commission. The Manifesto will be a blueprint for how UWL and students work together to improve the student experience.

As part of the Manifesto, UWL will co-produce and publish a series of actions that fall into six themes.  

  1. Support for students before they reach university 

  2. An induction into university life for each year of study 

  3. Support for mental health and wellbeing 

  4. A clear outline of the teaching students will receive and the necessary tools to access it 

  5. Activities inside and outside the curriculum that build skills, networks and communities  

  6. A clear pathway toward graduate outcomes 

The manifesto will be a public statement of the commitments UWL is making, and showcase the positive initiatives being undertaken. 

Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) Sara Raybould said:

Listening to the student voice and working with our Students’ Union to deliver the best possible university experience is key to everything we do. So, we are proud to be part of the first group of universities to sign up to this pledge and to create a manifesto that will support our students to overcome the challenges that have come from the pandemic.” 

Commenting on UWL and the 22 universities which have already made the pledge, Chair of the UPP Foundation Student Futures Commission, Mary Curnock Cook CBE said:

A Student Futures Manifesto, co-created and co-owned by students and their university, will be a powerful expression of intent about what students need to support successful lives and careers. They will help to rebuild the full student experience through a partnership between universities and their students. It is a testament to the University of West London and the wider HE sector’s commitment to successful student futures that 22 universities have already taken on this challenge."

Richard Brabner, Director of the UPP Foundation – the charity which established the Commission said:

The UPP Foundation established the Student Futures Commission to support the sector in light of the disruption everyone has faced during the pandemic. We wanted the Commission to be supportive, constructive and challenging. Student Futures Manifestos are exactly this – a positive call to action to put student needs first.   

We are delighted that the University of West London has made this pledge and expect many more universities to do so in the months ahead.” 

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