Collaborative partnerships

North East Uni Connect Programme

Newcastle University is the lead partner institution for the North East Uni Connect Programme (previously NECOP). The North East Uni Connect Programme is a collaboration of all the universities, further education colleges in the North East region.

Institutions are working together to deliver a targeted programme of information and support relating to higher education options in the North East. This activity is part of the National Uni Connect Programme funded by the Office for Students (OfS).

FutureMe is the programme of activity being offered to students by North East Uni Connect. Students taking part in FutureMe will have access to a range of activities and events to support them in considering their future options and learning about educational pathways available to them. By taking part in FutureMe activities we want young people to:

Have the opportunity to plan for their future and gain an understanding of what can support them in reaching their goals.
Have access to high quality information and support to help them consider whether higher education is the right option for them.
Have an increased awareness and understanding of higher education opportunities and progression pathways in the region.

You can find out more about Uni Connect by visiting the Office for Students website.

Realising Opportunities

Newcastle University is the lead partner institution for Realising Opportunities, a unique collaboration of 15 leading, research-intensive universities. They work together to promote fair access and social mobility of students from groups underrepresented in higher education.

North East Raising Aspiration Partnership

Newcastle University is the lead partner institution for the North East Raising Aspiration Partnership (NERAP), a collaboration of the five universities in the region. They work together to ensure every young person has the opportunity to make informed decisions about higher education.

Working alongside key stakeholders, NERAP focuses their outreach activity where added value can be achieved collaboratively. NERAP create targeted and progressive interventions for students currently under-represented in higher education.

Individually, each university in the region delivers a wide range of programmes and activities to support higher education decision making. Jointly, NERAP coordinates a range of collaborative activities for students in primary and secondary education and specific targeted support for underrepresented groups - including care experienced students and young carers. The Partnership also delivers events for teachers, advisers, parents and carers to support information, advice and guidance given to young people across the region.

The Elephant Group

Newcastle University works with the The Elephant Group, to increase access to selective institutions for underrepresented state school students.

The Elephant Group is a headteacher-led charity committed to improving fair access to top universities through the power of collaboration between school leaders, universities and wider invested partners.

Advancing Access

Advancing Access is a partnership between 24 leading universities working together with schools and colleges.

They provide a variety of CPD resources and online events, free of charge, for teachers and advisers to help them support students’ progression from key stage 4, right through to making university choices.

The website provides best practice examples and how-to guides for teachers and advisers to use as a part of peer-to-peer CPD and in the classroom with their students. These include video case studies featuring current students and recent graduates from Newcastle University and other Russell Group institutions.

Education networks