Raising Standards, Creating Opportunities
Raising Standards, Creating Opportunities is an advocacy and policy campaign by the Purpose Coalition.
It highlights that the UK’s universities are engines of social mobility and fundamental building blocks of opportunity for communities that need them most.
Our campaign is focussed on sharing best practice and practical steps that universities are taking to maximise both their social and economic impact.
The campaign’s first report was launched in the House of Commons in 2023 with a cross-party caucus of MPs, and is focussed on role Universities can play in raising standards in their local area and their work pre sixth-form alongside the vital role our Universities play in driving local economic growth as anchor institutions.
The ‘Raising Standards, Creating Opportunities’ campaign is focussed on role Universities can play in raising standards in their local area and their work pre sixth-form alongside the vital role our Universities play in driving local economic growth as anchor institutions.
Both of these issues are why our Universities are a key part of communities across the UK, and real engines of social mobility.
Our University members are doing great work in this area and our ‘Best in Class’ reports are highlighting best practice and making recommendations for the future.
Hear from students!
We’re proud that our partner universities are making a tangible difference in the lives of so many people across the UK.
Hear what people who have experienced the transformative power of education at a purpose-led university have to say about their experiences, and how their time at university has connected them to opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had.
Yasmin moved from Ghana to study law. She and her sister are the first in their family to move away from their home country to study abroad.
“I’ve chosen to do my degree in Chester for a multitude of reasons, the first one being its on the smaller end having like 300 students total, meaning that allows the faculty and staff to have more interaction which also feathers academic development in a sense. It definitely helps to be able to talk to staff about any problems and the opportunities as well.”
Olivia is a law graduate from the University of Worcester. She enjoys the community feel of the university as well as the city. The best piece of advice she has ever received is to not take the conventional path.
“I opted to do a study abroad when no-one else on my coure hadever done that before. So I extended my degree from three years to four years. It was a risk but essentially the best risk that I’ve ever taken because I came back with a unique experience.”
Katie is a musical theatre student at Solent University. She believes its important to trust your instincts when picking a university and she has been able to get a range of experience while studying her degree.
“Coming here has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I got such a good vibe from the city, it’s so different to somewhere like Oxford in so many ways.”
Rubel, Southampton University
“For someone who wants to break into tech, and specifically cybersecurity, I wanted to go to university to develop my technical proficiency.
“Southampton is actually a top-10 university for computer science, and it would let me have great access to employers through its Ignite Programme”.
Owen chose the University of Chester because he really liked the city and found the staff at the university friendly and inclusive.
“The staff are really friendly, really inclusive, as I myself have autism and they have a really big push for equality and inclusivity which is something that attracted me to the area and the university itself.”
Diana is a third year fashion student at Staffordshire University. She’d always wanted to go to university because it opens a lot of doors when you have a degree.
“I think the biggest challenge I’ve had to face so far is definitely tying to get used to the language. Because when we first moved here, I was new, I only spoke French and I was the only black girl and it was hard trying to fit in with the other kids.”
Pietro is a music performance and production student at Solent University. He has found that his lecturers and classmates are great and has enjoyed being able to specialise his skills.
“At university, you get so many different opportunities and I’ve learned a set of skills that transfer to different things, too.”
Xayvia, Southampton University
“When I was at primary school, I wasn’t really academic. But I’ve seen how a lack of education can reduce opportunity for first-generation immigrants like my father.
“I’m the first in my family to go to university. The reason I wanted to come to Southampton is because I know employers value students who have come to this sort of university”.
Katie is a third year law student at the University of Worcester. Katie didn’t want to study too far away from home, and Worcester had an excellent law school with lots of different opportunities.
“Before University, I really struggled with m confidence. I think everyone perceived that I had this magnificent confidence, but on the insde I really didn’t feel it and I think starting university has really helped with that.”
Samantha is studying primary education at Staffordshire University because she wanted to set a good example to her three children.
“At first it was a bit daunting, thinking about going to university to study and trying to be as well, to three boys. But it’s been achievable. I also have a part time job in the evening as well.”
Nora, Southampton University
“One of the things that attracted me to studying law at Southampton was the subject hub for law, where I met all the lecturers and saw how happy the students were.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a solicitor or a barrister, so going to university gave me the opportunity to make that decision, as well as learn which area of law I wanted to specialise in.”
Salsabilla, Southampton University
“Southampton was my local university, and it made sense to come to such a great university.
“University has helped my confidence because there are so many people in my class I feel more comfortable speaking to more people and getting to know everyone”.
Our Report
Universities play a crucial role in our communities up and down the country. As vehicles of social mobility they're vital in bridging the opportunity gap between our education system and the world of employment.
Universities are working on the ground, driving up educational standards in local schools through strategic outreach and delivering fantastic teacher training.
On employment, ever more effectively linking students from all backgrounds directly to opportunities.
And also helping to create more opportunities themselves, through fostering entrepreneurship, and with their research effort directly boosting economic growth in regions across the UK.
Read our report below.
Parliamentary Supporters
Robin Walker MP
Chair, Education Select Committee
Member of Parliament for Worcester
Jack Brereton MP
Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent South
Jo Gideon MP
Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central
Paul Howell MP
Member of Parliament for Sedgefield
Jane Hunt MP
Member of Parliament for Loughborough
Chris Clarkson MP
Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton
Dr Rupa Huq MP
Member of Parliament for Ealing Central and Acton
Robbie Moore MP
Member of Parliament for Keighley and Ilkley
Ian Levy MP
Member of Parliament for Blyth Valley
John Lamont MP
Minister for Scotland
Member of Parliament for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Alyn Smith MP
SNP Spokesman for Europe
Member of Parliament for Stirling
The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KC MP
Former Justice Secretary
Member of Parliament for South Swindon
Douglas Ross MP MSP
Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party
Member of Parliament for Moray
Mary Kelly Foy MP
Member of Parliament for City of Durham
Elliot Colburn MP
Carshalton and Wallington
