Transcript

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<Conference presenter from university senior executive team>

“... That’s just a taste of some of the courses that we have on offer which are flexible and can work around work and family commitments. This is key for much of our work on social mobility and raising aspiration. We realise that not everyone can access our great campus and world-leading courses. This is why we have now developed these flexible blended courses aligned to jobs and social mobility. This is our commitment to being a civic institution.

Thanks especially to Ed and Dan for their stories. You are both shining examples of hard work, competitiveness and intellectual curiosity. You have been able to access courses on a part-time basis which requires a lot of resilience and character. We saw in those videos how Ed and Dan both experienced part-time study whilst working and juggling other commitments. This desire to learn is impressive and we are very proud of the work this great university does in its ambitious widening participation agenda. Ed and Dan’s hard work merits where they are at today, working here at the university following their research degrees. 

<Applause>

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Dan: “It’s Ed isn’t it? From the widening participation and course launch event”?

Ed: “Yes, and you’re Dan?”. 

Dan: “Yeah”

Ed: “On your way home?”

Dan: “Yeah, you?”

Ed: “Yeah, you didn’t fancy the do after?”

Dan: “Not really, I’m not into university wine and nibbles. And I’d like to get in for bath time with my daughter.”

Ed: “Ah, yes, us plucky part-timers have plenty of other commitments.”

Dan: “Ha ha, yes. Who would have thought I am the academic lead for one of the programmes.”

Ed: “Really! Me too!”

Dan: “I was a bit annoyed to be honest about how the videos came across.”

Ed: "Annoyed? How come? I thought the videos projected a positive message.”

Dan: “Well, I said quite a bit about the ups and downs involved in studying and working but also how those from different backgrounds and experiences bring their knowledge into universities which is really valuable. There seemed to be more ups than downs in the video. I didn’t get to see a final version until tonight and it was a bit of a shock.”

Ed: “We’re trying to promote the courses. And you can’t get into much detail in those short videos. Who wants to hear about the not so good stuff?”

Dan: “I do. It’s a bit one-sided only talking about the perceived pluses, don’t you think? A bit sugar coated”

Ed: “Not sure it’s one-sided. More like good marketing and promotions.”

Dan: “Ahh, never let turning a profit get in the way of the truth” 

Ed: “Steady on Mick Lynch!” (Laughing)

Dan: “Joking aside, there’s nothing in any of those videos about the challenges students are likely to face and what they bring in terms of knowledge and experience.”

Ed: “What challenges are you talking about?”

Dan: “There’s managing work with study; not to mention the demands of family life. And, let’s not forget all those unexpected little nuggets of disruption, life has a habit of throwing at you.”

Ed: “Fair point, I wasn’t exactly delighted that the stuff I shared about my career routes into HE ended up on the editing room floor. However, thinking of the bigger picture, it was for the best. That story isn’t the most uplifting in places.”

Dan: “But, that’s the sort of stuff people should be hearing about, not some polished meritocratic Cinderella story.”

Ed: “Look, I get where you’re coming from but you’re not exactly going to attract too many people sharing doom and gloom. And anyway, you haven’t done so bad from it all.”

Dan: “Hardly doom and gloom. It’s called transparency - and I’m one of the lucky ones! There’s plenty who have fallen by the wayside and been gobbled up in the Darwinian academic food chain.”

Ed: “We’re trying to widen participation, here; encourage people who haven’t been able to take advantage of traditional routes into higher education to sign up. Surely, that’s a good thing?”

Dan: “Of course, it’s a good thing, but don’t you think it a little bit unethical not to tell both sides of the story, so to speak?”

Ed: “Not sure it’s too ethical to be putting people off coming, particularly if it improves their social mobility and as a knock on develops the local area.”

Dan: “It’s going to take more than a microcredential to improve the years of lack of investment since the factories went around here. And I’m not saying we should put people off, but they should know what’s ahead of them; the good, bad and the unknown.”

Ed: “We’re never going to agree on this but one thing we can agree on is that the students get loads of extra support.”

Dan: “That’s great, but it doesn’t address the structural inequalities many in this city face.”

Ed: “So, what are we supposed to do, wait until the social structures are sorted, which will take goodness knows how long, if ever? Or, can we not at least give someone a leg up to improve their life, which may lift others, too,”

Dan: “We’re going down a rabbit hole here and I’m getting off in a few stops. I don’t think it need be one or the other; both can happen at the same time. The point I’m making is that we need to be upfront with people about what’s involved in studying part-time, including the possibility it may not be the golden ticket to the promised land of so-called social mobility.”

Ed: “Or, it could be.”

Dan: “Could be what?”

Ed: “Could be a transformative experience that leads to new possibilities and mobilities.”

Dan: “What are these possibilities and mobilities you speak of? A management job and an upgrade from fish and chips to the seven-course tasting menu. Knowledge need not be a ticket to rising through the classes”

Ed: “Yes comrade!” (laughs)

Dan: “Don’t you feel just the slightest bit annoyed that aspects of your story were silenced and re-framed?”

Ed: “Well the bit that was left out was all about my career before joining the university and a lot of the work that I have done here.. I was pretty successful in my field but got the bug for research. I still make use of those industry connections and those skills. That got left out but I suppose they can’t put everything in. I don’t mind though, as long as what is shared leads to people signing up for the courses and learning in a way that makes changes to their lives.”

Dan: “Are you always this annoying and glass half full?” (Laughs)

Ed: “Not always. I recognise that there are problems, but it doesn’t help anyone to dwell on them and do nothing.”

Dan: “I wish I could agree but I feel that by erasing part of my story, I’m being spoken for, which seems disingenuous given that so much was said about inclusivity and diversity.”

Ed: “Ahh, so this is about you not getting your moment in the limelight? (Laughs)

Dan: “Yeah, I was hoping for a Bafta to add to my Oscar (said sarcastically). And, while I’m at it I’ll try and get rid of this Jimmy Nesbit regional accent too;  that might help me get more screen time. No, look, it’s about the right to be represented in a manner which is authentic to me and my experiences. To be honest, I often wish I’d took my Dad’s advice and got a proper trade - I would have earned more money. People’s knowledge and experiences from their lives are important. 

The University doesn’t create us, we all come from different backgrounds with cultures that are important to us but that’s what makes the university such a great place. Some of the stuff that was left out about me was my research in this area on the university and so-called social mobility. Some of the research is critical, so whilst the research community love it, it gets glossed over by the PR department.”

Ed: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat you know. The slick marketing department are never going to go for your Ken Loach stuff. Give them what they want and you can do interesting work with the students and then talk about your research as much as you like.”

Dan: “Yeah, you have a point. I might ask them to go and scrape up those bits of video from the cutting room floor to put in the course.”

Ed: “That’s the spirit. Right, this is me, I’m getting off”

Ed: “Don’t forget. Most of us are on the cutting room floor, but some of us are looking at the stars. See ya!”

Dan: “See ya.”