St George’s, University of London has been shortlisted for Widening Participation Initiative of The Year at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
St George's shortlisted for Widening Participation Award
26th September 2008
St George’s, University of London has been shortlisted for Widening Participation Initiative of The Year at the forthcoming Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
St George’s, University of London received a Special Commendation in the Widening Participation Initiative of The Year category of the Times Higher Education Awards 2008.
The institution was recognised for its Adjusted Criteria programme, which widens participation in medical degrees by assessing applicants’ academic qualifications through comparison with their social peers rather than with the national average. St George’s is able to alter the requirement that those who are invited for interview must have an average of grade A in GCSEs and all As at A-level. Applicants with an A-level performance 60 per cent above the average for their school are guaranteed an interview at which their educational background is not disclosed. Since the programme began in 2002, it has accounted for almost seven per cent of St George’s medical students. All participants come from comprehensive schools, and many are from backgrounds with no tradition of higher education.
Head of Widening Participation and Student Recruitment Kenton Lewis commented: “To be shortlisted for this award is an honour and we are proud to be recognised for the efforts we put into ensuring fair access to our courses and creating an atmosphere students will remember for years to come.”
The Times Higher Education Awards, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by UK higher education institutions.
Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Higher Education, commented: “The Awards recognise the very best in higher education in the UK and we are delighted to announce that St George’s, University of London has made it onto the shortlist for Widening Participation Initiative of The Year. Our senior advisory panel has been taken from all fields of academia and had to choose from hundreds of first-class entries – only the best made it through to our shortlist.”
Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 23 October 2008. Last year more than 1,200 people from all parts of higher education gathered to celebrate the sector’s achievements.
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