We are opening our doors to an ever greater range of students. In her monthly column, our Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O’Brien explores some of the student support packages recently launched to make Durham even more accessible.
We want to welcome talent from all walks of life, including the talent have all around us in the North East.
Last month, I wrote about our newly agreed Access and Participation Plan.
This is the detailed strategy that marks a step change in how we are identifying and encouraging students from groups that are currently underrepresented in higher education to study with us.
Since then, we have made three important announcements that demonstrate this commitment.
Firstly, our inspiring Chancellor, the County Durham-born US Presidential advisor Dr Fiona Hill, announced a new scholarship.
This will support people from lower income households in North East England to study with us.
In Fiona’s words: “Education is a great equaliser, but only if people have access to it.”
We are extremely grateful for Fiona’s generosity, and look forward to welcoming the first Fiona Hill scholars later this year.
Secondly, we have launched a new scholarship for a care experienced doctoral research student.
Named in honour of Jahnine Davis, the National Kinship Care Ambassador, the Davis Scholarship will support study of contextual safeguarding.
The research supervisor will be Professor Carlene Firmin, who in 2011 was the youngest black woman to receive an MBE.
On joining Durham in 2021 she became one of the UK’s youngest ever female black professors.
Thirdly, we have agreed a new, enhanced package of support for estranged and care-experienced students.
It is a tremendous achievement for students who have been in the care system to get a top university.
And in order to flourish, they often need extra support with year-round accommodation and finances.
In the past week, we have achieved a best-ever 21 subjects in the world top 100 in their field in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject – including three in the top ten.
The QS Rankings demonstrate our excellence. The initiatives described in this column point to our values.
If you are considering your study and career options, think: Durham.
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