Getting in is just the start: Northumbria University’s ambitious push for social mobility

Bede academy’s partnership with Northumbria University has led to the development of a new qualification and healthcare training facility. Principal Andrew Thelwell is pictured back right Photograph: PR IMAGE

From support for an outreach centre that helps children as young as seven with their schoolwork to academics researching the benefits of a universal basic income, a commitment to driving social mobility and tackling inequality is deeply ingrained in Northumbria University’s DNA.

Participation in higher education remains lower in the north-east of England than in other parts of the country, and while Northumbria has an impressive record on access – 40% of its students come from areas with low rates of higher education participation, the highest of any research-intensive university – it’s constantly striving to ensure students from all backgrounds can excel.