Student initiatives

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Sussex sets out along the Coastal Highway

A project that aims to find out why some young people don't go to university was launched in September.

Funded for three years by a grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Sussex Coastal Highway is a partnership between the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, University College Chichester, nine further education colleges and eight secondary schools on the Sussex coast.

The project aims to work with school and college students from communities of local deprivation in Brighton, Chichester, Hastings, Newhaven and Worthing. It will be identifying and responding to the needs, perceptions and aspirations of specific groups of students in these areas.

Project manager Jacky Harding said: "Over the next three years a number of exciting initiatives will take place. These include raising awareness of higher education through open days, summer courses, weekend schools and evening provision.

"We will be informing parents and carers of the benefits of higher education for their children; and providing opportunities for young people to talk to current university students about courses and student life."

Working closely with Jacky will be Sara McKernan, the new Widening Participation Officer at Sussex. Sara will also be helping to develop the University's internal strategy and will be co-ordinating a new group, set up by Pro Vice-Chancellor Mary Stuart to help her to monitor and direct the University's overall policy in relation to issues around widening participation.

Student Support Unit

Sue Yates
Head of Student Support

The new Student Support Unit was officially opened by the Vice-Chancellor on 27 September. The Unit was set up following a successful bid to the HEFCE for improving the University's provision for students with disabilities and special needs.

The Student Support Unit is the base for the University's Disability Co-ordinator and Learning Support Co-ordinator. It offers advice and assistance to prospective and current students with disabilities and learning support needs, including advice on applying for funding.

The Unit is located in Pevensey 1 on the North-South Road and is open from 9.00am-5.00pm, Monday to Friday.