The start of the new academic year has heralded a return to in-person outreach events. It has been a busy time for our Outreach and Admissions Team.
On Tuesday 12 October, the Team were delighted to welcome for the first time to Oxford students on our Derby Scholars programme. The programme was set up in partnership with the University of Derby to address the barriers, which may prevent able young people accessing opportunities and progressing to Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge. Seven Derby Scholars enjoyed a presentation on interviews, a discovery hunt, a student Q&A, lunch and a tour of the College, followed by a visit to the Ashmolean and a tour of Mansfield College.
Wednesday 13 October saw Katherine and Tamsin accompanying Professor Pete Nellist and Professor Susie Speller (St Catherine’s) to Xaverian college in Manchester for the launch of the annual North West Science Network Programme. This outreach activity aims to engage students from the northwest with research-level science and scientists, and is designed to further equip them to make informed choices in relation to higher education, and to support them in their application and entry into university. Events take place across the year both locally and in Oxford.
School visits to Corpus also started again last week with students from George Dixon Academy visiting Corpus for an Oxplore session. As the ‘Home of Big Questions’, Oxplore aims to challenge with debates and ideas that go beyond what is covered in the classroom. Big questions tackle complex ideas across a wide range of subjects and reflect the kind of critical thinking students undertake at Oxford. Its goal is to raise aspirations, promote broader thinking and encourage intellectual curiosity.