Student retention and progression in higher education

Bringing together senior managers and policy makers from across the higher education sector, this conference will set out how to meet the challenge of achieving high levels of student retention and to provide equal opportunities for all students, by giving them support and access to opportunities to succeed.Retaining students and working to ensure students succeed is at the core of widening participation, as higher education opens up to increased numbers and a greater diversity of students.This 3rd annual national conference will provide an opportunity to hear a policy update, and also learn more about the £246 million funding that HEFCE will provide institutions with for improving retention through the widening participation allocation. The conference will also provide an opportunity to hear further details of the National Audit Office’s report, 'Staying the Course: The retention of students in higher education'.

Speakers include

• Dr. Ruth Farwell
  Vice-Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University Vice-Chair of GuildHE and Chair of The Ethnicity, Gender and Degree Attainment project steering group
• Professor Bob Burgess
  Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester, and Chair, The Higher Education Academy
• Wes Streeting
  Vice President (Education), NUS (National Union of Students)
• Dr. Gillian King
  Deputy Director (Audit), Reviews Group, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
• Angela Hands
  Director, Value for Money – Education and Skills, The National Audit Office (NAO)
• Kevin Whitson
  Head of Widening Participation, HEFCE
• Chaired by Fran Hulbert
  Policy Advisor and Former Director, Skills Policy, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)