Aimhigher is a national programme run by the Higher Education Funding Council for England with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Its aim is to encourage young people from under-represented groups to consider higher education. The programme particularly focuses on those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Aimhigher is engaged in a variety of activities designed to meet these aims, such as residential summer schools, campus visits and mentoring programmes.

Richard Partington, Senior Tutor of Churchill College and Chair of the University’s Outreach Steering Group, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed lead higher education institution for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Aimhigher. Our engagement with Aimhigher to date has been substantial and enthusiastic, and we have greatly valued the opportunities Aimhigher has afforded us to reach out to and support bright and talented students from under-represented backgrounds in this region. As lead HEI we will be able not just to maintain but to expand an aspect of widening participation provision that is hugely important to us.”

Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges, added: "Aimhigher is a key programme in the national efforts to widening participation in higher education. Cambridge has been actively involved with Aimhigher since its inception and we are delighted to have been given this opportunity to continue and strengthen our involvement in the programme going forward."

Kevin Whitston, Head of Widening Participation at HEFCE, commented: “Aimhigher plays a crucial role in creating effective working partnerships between schools, colleges, HEIs and work-based learning providers in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

“As lead HEI for the area, the University of Cambridge will help to drive forward this important aspect of the programme and ensure that Aimhigher continues to raise the aspirations of young people who have the potential to enter higher education but are under-achieving, undecided or lacking in confidence.”

Since 2004, the University has provided administrative back-up for Aimhigher Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and acted as its banker. It has been involved in programmes to encourage young people and adults to consider going to university through ALFHE (Adult Learners into Further and Higher Education) and YPiHE (Young People into Higher Education).

As lead institution, Cambridge will work on a series of joint events with Anglia Ruskin University to broaden prospective students’ experience of higher education. Earlier this month, Cambridge held its first Aimhigher Easter schools for Year 10 and 11 [14-16 year old] pupils. These included lectures, seminars, discussion groups and practical work.

In addition, the University regularly holds Aimhigher Days which target specific schools and a number of other events, including Aimhigher Cluster Days for Year 10, 11 and 12 students, Joint Institution Days run with Anglia Ruskin University and a Widening Participation conference for Head Teachers and Curriculum Deputies in the Eastern Region.

Around 900 students are expected to take part in Cambridge's Aimhigher activities over the 2007/8 academic year. The focus for all is on raising awareness and understanding within the Eastern region of the different progression routes into higher education as a whole, not just specifically to Cambridge.

The announcement of Cambridge's role as lead institution for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough comes after the Government laid out plans to extend funding for the Aimhigher programme, launched in 2001, until 2011. The new programme, which runs from August 2008-2011, is particularly focused on people from deprived backgrounds with a low rate of participation in higher education, the disabled and children in care.

The structure of Aimhigher has also changed with an emphasis on local partnerships and on building close relationships between universities, colleges, schools and businesses. The two higher education institutions on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough partnership are Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University. Other partners include local authority representatives, further education colleges and schools.

Source: By University Of Cambridge