The impact of WP initiatives on admissions to pre-reg healthcare education An SHA-funded research project. The research team: Jacinta Elliott & Dr Reg Walker, Elliott Walker Consultancy, York Professor Celia Roberts, King's College London Sunita Morris, Senior Lecturer Nursing, University Teacher Fellow, Leeds Metropolitan University

A. To analyse the annual admissions profile data across the region over a number of years B. To review the literatures on: (i) Widening participation in healthcare professions (ii) The pros and cons of selection interviewing C. A developmental evaluation of alternatives to conventional selection D. Doctoral research on the impact of WP on admissions decision-making Four strands of research

 Survey of WP activities in 10 faculties of health in the region.  5 sites selected for developmental evaluation – working alongside WP specialists and admissions staff to: establish which WP activities are translating into more diverse student profiles; ways in which the relationship between admission processes and WP initiatives can be made more robust.  For comparative purposes, a further survey of 10 universities outside of the region. This will inform both the on-going developmental work and the overall report. Strand C: Evaluation of alternatives to conventional selection

Interim findings … Lots of partnership working with schools and FEs, Aim Higher, Open College, etc. Lots of interesting outreach activities - Baby Doctors, Childrens' University, summer schools, taster days … Increasing number of student support schemes Surprisingly little analysis or purposeful evaluation of the impact of all this Apparent disconnect between WP specialists and admissions staff

The survey of admissions processes …  Do you use selection interviews?  Do you use any other methods of face-to-face engagement?  Have your admissions processes changed in the last 5 years? If so in what ways?  Has the student profile changed in the last 5 years? If so in what ways?

Y+H survey : summary of 36 responses received so far …  Selection interviewing in use in all but one of the universities.  A range of additional activities in place: e.g. group interviews - applicant information days - mixed task days.  All but one of the universities have changed admissions processes in the last 5 years. Changes include: guaranteed interviews for students on foundation courses new literacy and numeracy tests dropping selection interviewing altogether (for nursing and physio).  Only three have done any detailed analysis of changes to student profiles (as recommended in the 2008 QAA audit).

Initial conclusions … Need to collect, analyse and use student data on a more considered basis to inform WP activity Start to evaluate which WP activities are impacting on student profiles & how Link WP activity and admissions processes to analysis of student support needs Need to make the links between WP activities and Admissions much more dynamic