This project was designed to approach some of the issues around accessing higher education in an alternative way, by involving student participants as active agents in research. Year 12 students in four schools across Sussex were invited to take part in a series of workshops to learn research skills such as ethics, producing questions, interview skills and interpreting data. Students then used these to research attitudes and perspectives toward higher education in their communities and schools.

During the project, participant researchers had the opportunity to:

• gain research skills which can be applied to their current studies
• use their experience on UCAS applications to demonstrate participation in extra-curricular activities and an understanding of academic research
• prepare for university-level study, so that important terminology, concepts and methods are introduced before starting their course, helping with confidence and fitting in
• have a current PhD student as a research mentor, who assisted students in small group exercises and in interpreting their data
• be supported in shadowing a lecturer at university.

Partner: University of Sussex

Funding source: Uni Connect

SLN contact: Debra Vice-Holt    

Duration: January 2018 to October 2018

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