About Us
The Higher Opportunities Association was created in early 2018 with currently three members: Dr Neil Raven, Dr John Baldwin and Robin Webber-Jones. Each of us had carried out research, published and taught and, as we had collaborated on a number of projects, we decided to formally create a partnership association to enable us to access public funding and to jointly carry out work using our wide range of knowledge and skills.
We are particularly interested in widening access into higher education. Individually and jointly we have researched various aspects of widening access in schools and colleges, produced papers which have been presented at conferences run by the Forum for Access and Continuing Education and The National Education Opportunities Network, run a range of workshops at conferences and for individual institutions, and produced chapters for publications that have dealt with widening access and widening participation. We have also carried out research and produced reports as part of the BRIDGE project, which investigated the absence of women and members of BME community in the construction industry. As part of a research project into the impact on communities of limited access to HE by its younger members, we have carried out training to update teachers on aspects of social mobility.
We are flexible and keen to carry out research and consultancy, to manage and conduct investigations into educational issues, and provide training in all aspects of widening participation, as they relate to young and older people alike.
How can we help you?
We have the knowledge, skills and experience to carry out the following activities:
- Training all levels of staff in schools and colleges to enhance understanding of all aspects of widening access and participation
- Carrying out investigations and research in schools and colleges with students and staff
- Provide consultancy on understanding and improving access to higher education in schools and colleges.
For much of the work we have done so far, we have been able to access funding from a variety of charitable bodies.
