2023 - 2024 APP Builder Programme
NOW OPEN TO NON-MEMBERS
Background:
In line with OfS requirements for HE providers to submit new Access and Participation Plans (APPs), a key focus for SEER in 2022-23 and 2023-24 is supporting our members with the development and drafting of new Plans.
The SEER team have supported 5 members through the APP Wave 1 process. Approvals are now starting to come through from the OfS. We have dealt with a range of queries from the OfS, worked with OfS assessors to deepen our understanding of the requirements, and have provided feedback to OfS on their processes. We are now bringing this experience to support providers in Wave 2.
The next Wave (Wave 2) of Access and Participation Plans (APPs) are due for submission to the OfS in Spring/ Summer 2024. To help our members, SEER have developed an ‘APP Builder Programme’, which includes a series of targeted workshops, information sessions and learning opportunities to support the development of APPs.
SEER is also working with members to collaboratively draft key parts of their APPs that relate to SEER service areas – i.e. activity outcomes, evaluation plans, the evidence base for practice, publication of evaluation/ findings, and the overall evaluation strategy. This is an approach we adopted for our Wave 1 providers, which has been welcomed by John Blake.
AimS:
The aim of the APP Builder programme is to ensure that our SEER members produce quality, manageable and contextually relevant Access and Participation Plans (APPs) that meet regulatory requirements.
We are also now providing the opportunity for non-SEER members to participate in APP Builder Programme sessions.
Current non-members can:
Register on a session-by-session basis (£95 per session)
Register for the programme (12 sessions, £950)
Register for free following agreement of SEER membership (in current or subsequent years).
Please complete the contact form at the end of this page, noting any specific sessions you wish to join.
Our Objectives are:
To ensure that providers feel supported and confident along the journey of writing APPs.
To ensure providers are aware of, can access, and can utilise good practice in the processing and design of their APPs.
To drive quality, consistent approaches to evaluation and research within APPs.
To provide opportunities for providers to collaborate and share practices.
The following provides the final schedule and topics for sessions.
Session 1
APP requirements and the APP consultation and writing process.
In this session, we will explore key OfS requirements and the structure of the APP. We will consider models for APP drafting and consultation across your institution, over the development timeline.
We will also consider good practices for student consultation, co-design and capturing input, and provide some tools to support this process.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input.
Thursday 26th October 2023 at 13:30-14:45.
It is likely this session will run again in December 2023.
Session 2
Data for APP and undertaking the Performance Assessment (Annex A).
This session focuses on the OfS APP dataset as the primary source of data for institutional performance assessments, exploring example findings, dealing with small data, and options for presenting data in Annex A.
We also consider other data sources that can help to add insight to indicators of risk, including institutional, national, and local data; and gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed.
Data Teams: As this session provides an overview of key APP data, and the types of data, metrics and monitoring that would be useful to understand ongoing performance in access and participation, it may be useful for data teams.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for data / performance analysis and those writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input. May also benefit those with knowledge of broader institutional risks and priorities.
Wednesday 1st November 2023 at 12:30-14:30.
It is likely this session will run again in December 2023.
Session 3
Determining our Risks & Setting Targets: Using the EORR to explore Indicators of Risk and Target areas.
Following on from the previous session, we explore our Indicators of Risk in the context of the Equality of Opportunity Risk register (EORR). We will model how the Risks to Equality of Opportunity section of the APP could be approached, including explaining which risks/targets will not be included.
We also look at how targets might be set and the challenges in target setting. The session provides opportunities for participants to raise questions / discuss specific challenges to determining their own targets.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for writing APPs and leading / co-ordinating input.
Wednesday 29th November 2023 at 13:00-14:30.
Session 4
Intro to APPs: key information and financial implications for Boards/ Executive Leadership.
This session provides an overview of APP regulation, new APP requirements, finance and key advice for institutional leadership who may not be familiar with access and participation.
We will specifically explore the Fees, Investment and Targets (FIT) Plan, providing considerations for completing it, as well as taking specific questions from participants. We also outline the funding arrangements (allocation and acquittal) relating to APP.
Suggested audience: Boards, Governor, Executive/ Leadership, Finance staff/ teams needing to understand the finances around access and participation, SU president or similar. May also benefit staff responsible for writing APPs and leading input.
Wednesday 29th November 2023 at 15:30-16:45.
This session walks participants through the process of designing Theories of Change (ToC), including exploring the TASO enhanced model elements and SEER approaches.
This provides grounding knowledge for the ToC Development workshops.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for designing interventions / activities for the APP. Staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input.
Wednesday 6th December 2023 at 12:30-14:00.
Session 5
Using Theory of Change to design APP Intervention Strategies and compile Annex B.
Embedding access and participation into existing practice is part of a whole institutional approach to improving equality of opportunity for target students.
In this session, SEER staff talk about the various areas of alignment and where practice may consider and add to /extract value from access and participation work.
Suggested audience: Staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input.
Wednesday 13th December 2023 at 12:00-14:00.
Session 6
Thinking about alignment with other institutional strategies, policies, and priorities.
Learning Lunch Session
SEER staff will present a quick-fire round of the range of common and good practices and evidence to address risk in the Access area, scaffolded on Theory of Change (ToC) models. We will highlight target groups who are more likely to experience challenges in this area. ToC models may be adapted and used in member’s APPs, as required.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for designing interventions / activities for Access; and marketing and recruitment staff with responsibilities for access activity.
Wednesday 17th January 2024 at 12:30-14:00.
Session 7
Good practice: Access Strategies and their Theories of Change (ToCs)
Learning Lunch Session
SEER staff will present a quick-fire round of the range of common and good practices and evidence to address risk in the Transition to HE area, scaffolded on Theory of Change (ToC) models. We will highlight target groups who are more likely to experience challenges in this area. ToC models may be adapted and used in member’s APPs, as required.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for designing interventions / activities for Access / Transition-in / Admissions.
Wednesday 24th January 2024 at 12:30-14:00.
Session 8
Good practice: Supporting Transition to HE and Theories of Change (ToCs)
Learning Lunch Session
SEER staff will present a quick-fire round of the range of common and good practices and evidence to address risk in the Student Success area, scaffolded on Theory of Change (ToC) models. We will highlight specific target groups who are more likely to experience challenges in this area. ToC models may be adapted and used in member’s APPs, as required.
This is a 2-Part session which will also cover, as part of strategies in the success area, good practices in provision of financial support and models for financial support.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for designing interventions / activities to support student success (academics & professional staff); staff responsible for designing bursary and grant, scholarship, hardship and other student support fund models.
Wednesday 7th February 2024 at 13:00-16:00.
Session 9
Good practice: Student Success initiatives and their Theories of Change (ToCs)
Learning Lunch Session
SEER staff will present a quick-fire round of the range of common and good practices and evidence to address risk in the Carees and Employability area, scaffolded on Theory of Change (ToC) models. We will highlight specific target groups who are more likely to experience challenges in this area. ToC models may be adapted and used in member’s APPs, as required.
Suggested audience: staff responsible for designing interventions / activities to support careers and employability (academics & professional staff).
Wednesday 14th February 2024 at 12:00-14:00.
Session 10
Good practice: Careers and Employability initiatives and their Theories of Change (ToCs)
Providers will now need time to develop their Intervention Strategies and activities for their APPs. We have therefore left a 5-week ‘break’ in the builder programme. However, SEER will be operating an ‘open door’ for advice, at member requests.
This session is an opportunity to understand and use SEER’s support with Evaluation elements of APPs, and our approach to quality, consistent evaluation planning and opportunities for collaborative analyses.
We will also consider the OfS Self-assessment tool and advise on its application, as well as considering expectations about publication of findings.
Suggested audience: Staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input. Any staff with specific remit around evaluation for APPs.
Wednesday 13th March 2024 at 12:30-14:00.
Session 11
Approaches to Evaluation: Evaluation Strategy, Plans and Publishing Findings
This session provides an overview and pointers for drafting the remaining sections of the APP, drawing on the range of information and data collected through the APP Builder Programme process.
Suggested audience: Staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input.
Wednesday 20th March 2024 at 12:30-14:00.
Session 12
Reflections for drafting final sections: Whole Institution Approach, Student Consultation, & Information to Students
As part of the 2024 SEER Symposium, this additional day (Tuesday) will be dedicated to completing Plans. We’ll provide a forum for members to come together to finalise, develop, refine and share practice on their APPs. The SEER team and OfS staff (TBC) will be on-hand to provide advice and support in these final stages.
Suggested audience: Staff responsible for writing APPs and leading /co-ordinating input.