The University of Strathclyde has won an award for Outstanding Educational Practice at the first-ever WhoCares? Scotland Corporate Parenting Awards 2024.
The accolade was secured thanks to the University’s comprehensive range of support for care-experienced students offered under its Strathclyde Cares initiative.
Strathclyde Cares, a UK first, ensures students with care experience are supported throughout their student journey, from pre-entry support and assistance with applications, financial support and mentoring to help them to stay in their studies, to help with graduation costs and careers advice.
Care-experienced students are also prioritised in the University’s Digital Inclusion scheme, to receive a laptop loan and/or a Wi-Fi grant. There were 216 students with declared care experience registered at the University in the 2023/24 academic year.
The University, in collaboration with the Students' Union, hosts a Christmas dinner party where each care-experienced student receives a pre-cooked Christmas dinner and takes part in games and quizzes and receives a Christmas goodie bag containing gifts and vouchers.
Holistic package
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “Strathclyde is a socially progressive University which is committed to widening access and ensuring those who can benefit from higher education have the opportunity to do so.
“This award is testament to the hard work and dedication of colleagues in Student Experience and across the University who work tirelessly to ensure our care-experienced students have everything they need to succeed at Strathclyde and in their future lives and careers.”
Stephanie McKendry, Deputy Director of Student Experience at Strathclyde, said: “Through Strathclyde Cares we aim to create a holistic package of support to ensure care-experienced students are not disadvantaged by their circumstances.
By addressing their academic, financial, social, and emotional needs they have the opportunity to grow and thrive at University and it is really satisfying to see our care-experienced students succeed.
Strathclyde Cares aligns with the university's Corporate Parenting Plan and Widening Access Strategy and the University was the first educational institution in Scotland to sign up as an 'official friend' of Who Cares? Scotland.
The Awards marked the 10 year anniversary of the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014 Act.