Brunel University London’s 20-year partnership with Moody’s to run the Urban Scholars programme was celebrated yesterday with a NEON Widening Access Partnership Award.
The NEON Awards celebrate the transformative power that HE can have and recognises key achievements in the widening access sector.
Founded by Prof Valsa Koshy MBE, a leading light in research into social inequality and education, the programme is now run by Catherina Emery and Antoine Rogers with Carole Portman-Smith. Catherina said: “This is a fantastic accolade and testament to the hard work of everyone involved in the programme which has allowed so many young people to see what they could be and giving them more choices for their future. I have been involved since day one so I can see what a difference the funding and Moody's support has given to so many scholars.”
More than 900 students aged 12-18 have completed the three and four-year Urban Scholars programme, designed to enhance their educational aspirations and prospects. Selected for their academic talent or their potential to achieve high, many of the students come from socially deprived areas where their talents may not lead to successful examination results or high aspirations. And by taking part in the monthly Saturday sessions, evening enrichment sessions and off campus visits, these students have transformed their lives.
Many of these alumni return to share their experiences, encouraging new scholars to continue in education and to consider taking up a profession that they previously may not have considered.
As well as co-funding the programme, volunteers from global integrated risk assessment firm Moody’s prepare scholars for the world of work through taught sessions, workplace visits and paid yearly summer internships. These volunteers bring a global perspective and scholars in each of the last three cohorts have gained places at American universities (Columbia and Dartmouth) with scholarships worth £100,000 a year.
During the pandemic, Moody’s offered extra funding which enabled Catherina and colleagues to move the programme online with no loss of sessions, as well as replacing the proposed mentoring programme with a subject specific tutorial programme.
Looking to the future Catherina adds: “Apart from looking to add a blended learning approach to taught sessions alongside a mentoring programme delivered by Moody's volunteers, the programme aims will remain unchanged as the partnership strives to ensure that the life chances of all scholars are enhanced.
“Many thanks to Vice-Provost Mariann Rand-Weaver, the Widening Access team for the funding from Brunel and Senior Development Officer (Trusts & Foundations) Mohammed Alam who has worked hard on our partnership with Moody’s.”
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