Discover seven innovative GRT initiatives spearheaded by the University of Sussex

Over the last few years, the University of Sussex has introduced a number of innovative measures to better understand and meet the needs of GRT students, to ensure that greater numbers join their community and explore other higher education options:

  1. Academics at the university have been involved in a number of pieces of research exploring current barriers to higher education and how to overcome them, and have made this research open source so that it can be used by other organisations looking to bring about positive change. Discover Dr Emily Danvers and Dr Tamsin Hinton-Smith’s report ‘Marginalisation and mixed feelings: Supporting students of GRT heritage imagining higher education in the UK’ here 
  2. The university has worked with students from its Department of Media & Film to create a film, posters, workshops and resources highlighting how to support GRT learners through education and into higher education. If you’re looking for inspiration and wanting to hear the experiences and advice of GRT students and community practitioners you can view the film here
  3. Students from underrepresented backgrounds – including those of GRT heritage - can become a Buddy or Mentor to support students from their communities. Buddies befriend and support other students on the campus while Mentors reach out to, and support, younger students at local schools.
  4. The university’s student engagement programme Belong at Sussex established a GRT at Sussex Tea & Chat event during the university’s Welcome Week to give GRT students and staff a dedicated place to meet and establish their own networks of support. This will become an annual event and is something that can be easily emulated on campuses across the UK. GRT students also have a named, dedicated contact to turn to throughout their time at the university
  5. The university's Widening Participation GRT leads, Chris Derbyshire and Lily Maguire, have grown their GRT profile with local, regional and national networks to seek enhanced collaboration and improving outcomes for GRT learners
  6. The Widening Participation team is liaising with local schools and community groups to co-ordinate dedicated site visits so that GRT students can get first hand experience of a university campus and have the opportunity to talk with university students
  7. The university is also offering inclusivity consultancy to other schools, colleges and universities. It can provide equality audits of policies, practices and communications and can also help design policies and practices to support GRT students’ inclusion and progression into higher education.

If you’ve been inspired by what the University of Sussex is doing and would like to find out more you can keep up to date with their latest initiatives on their dedicated blog.  You can also meet the team spearheading these innovative initiatives here and can get in touch with them direct using this link.