Cambridge outreach films triumph again at the Eventia IVCA awards

sjr90 — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:40:58 +0000

Last year “Cambridge in Numbers” won the IVCA Gold Award for Best Post Production.

This year “My Cambridge” took two IVCA Bronze Awards, for Best Film and Best Photography.

“My Cambridge” features three current Cambridge students, who share their stories in their own words.

Engineering student Bryn Pickering came to Cambridge from Bethesda, North Wales. At Cambridge, he has worked as a mentor and a student ambassador in order to inspire and encourage other state school students to apply.

Asked why he volunteered for the film, Bryn said “I am passionate about widening participation in Cambridge. I hope that sharing my experience will give students an insight into what it’s really like applying and then being at Cambridge, so that they’ll be ready to look more into the possibility of Cambridge as a ̽��ֱ�� choice.”

Another of the students in the film, Heather McKay, from Ayrshire, told student newspaper Varsity, “As I’m from a state school myself, and had very few contacts to help me through my own application process, I thought it sounded like a project that was right up my street.”

Commenting on the awards, James Brown, Production Manager at Contra, the digital agency commissioned by the ̽��ֱ�� to create the film, said "It has been a real pleasure working alongside the ̽��ֱ�� throughout this project.

“Eventia IVCA currently host the largest corporate communications awards ceremony in Europe, so we were delighted not only to have been nominated in two of the toughest categories, but to leave with awards.

“We're delighted that Cambridge were thrilled with the double-award winning film.”

Rachel Lister, Head of Student Recruitment and Information for the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, and Jess Bond, Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer, collected the awards on behalf of the ̽��ֱ��.

Rachel said: “Our students are our best ambassadors. They give up their time to share their stories with young people from their home towns, their old schools, and from similar backgrounds to their own, encouraging them to see beyond the stereotypes.

“’My Cambridge’ features just three of these stories. We hope that prospective students who watch this film will go on to find out more about Cambridge and make their own minds up about whether to make us one of their university choices.”

“ ̽��ֱ��film has received very positive feedback and we are delighted that “My Cambridge” has been recognised by the IVCA.”

Watch "My Cambridge" here.

“My Cambridge,” one of the ̽��ֱ��’s series of films promoting the unique features of undergraduate life at the collegiate ̽��ֱ��, has won two IVCA Bronze Awards.

Our students are our best ambassadors.

Rachel Lister, Head of Student Recruitment and Information.

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Yes

Preston and Rotherham students help celebrate 5000th HE+ participant

sjr90 — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 11:14:37 +0000

HE+ is a unique collaborative project developed by the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge in partnership with groups of schools and colleges across the UK.

Its goal is to encourage and prepare more academically-able students to compete for places at top universities, including the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge.

̽��ֱ��Rotherham consortium, led by Thomas Rotherham College and linked to Homerton College at the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, was one of the first consortia to join the project.

Preston’s Cardinal Newman College, which is linked to Sidney Sussex College, is one of the newest consorita. ̽��ֱ��five members of the Preston consortium brought the total number of HE+ participants since its launch in the 2009-10 academic year to just over 5,000.

"We want students from Lancashire to feel confident to apply for any university, including highly selective ones, and any course,” said Dan Taylor, Preston HE+ co-ordinator.

“HE+ gives them the confidence to do that, through stretching and challenging activities among peers with a similar outlook. ̽��ֱ��involvement of Cambridge has been an absolute well of support and ideas," Dan added.

In an HE+ consortium, schools and colleges work together to offer their brightest students an on-going programme of extension classes and aspiration-raising visits, delivered in partnership with a Cambridge College.

HE+ consortia are now working in Belfast, Cumbria, Preston, Liverpool, Wigan, Manchester, Huddersfield, Rotherham, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Stourbridge and Swansea.

“I was a bit sceptical about Cambridge but today has definitely broken some stereotypes for me,” said Rotherham HE+ participant Edward O'Toole, who was in Homerton College for a Maths masterclass. “ ̽��ֱ��maths session was challenging but an insight into the skills you need at degree level. I liked the independence and the freedom to come up with your own way of tackling the problems.”

Matt Hallam, Associate Head of Sixth Form at Maltby Academy, where Edward is studying for his A Levels, says that the Rotherham HE+ consortium has given his students much greater confidence.

“HE+ helps raise the aspirations of our students and in turn supports them in realising their potential,” Matt said.

“One-off visits to Universities provide a great insight into life as an undergraduate, but impact can be limited. ̽��ֱ��sustained nature of the HE+ programme means that students develop the necessary higher order thinking skills and confidence to compete with top performing students nationally.

“ ̽��ֱ��prospect of applying to Cambridge, or other top universities, steadily becomes more real as the programme develops.

“It is pleasing to see that many of our HE+ students successfully apply to and accept places at a number of selective universities,” Matt added.

Dr Richard Williams, Principal of Thomas Rotherham College and HE+ Co-Ordinator for the Rotherham Consortium, said: “HE+ is a most valuable initiative. Students and teachers really benefit from coming together in the extension classes in Rotherham, from the day in Cambridge, including the masterclasses with leading academics, and from the visits to Rotherham by our link Cambridge college.”

“ ̽��ֱ��HE+ programme provides academically talented students with a community for whom aiming high is the norm rather than the exception,” explains ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge HE+ co-ordinator Jess Bond.

“We know that HE+ works,” Jess added. “70% of participants in the 2011-12 HE+ programme were accepted to Russell Group universities, and four in ten of those who applied to Cambridge received offers.”

6th form students from Rotherham and Preston helped the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge celebrate its HE+ outreach project growing to 5000 participants.

We know that HE+ works. 70% of participants in the 2011-12 HE+ programme were accepted to Russell Group universities, and four in ten of those who applied to Cambridge received offers.

Jess Bond, HE+ co-ordinator for the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge

Preston HE+ students help celebrate the scheme growing to 5,000 participants

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Yes

̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Jess Bond

Cambridge outreach films triumph again at the Eventia IVCA awards

Preston and Rotherham students help celebrate 5000th HE+ participant