[Geo4All] Social Mobility

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,

I would like to thank Russell Group for call for increased sector-wide efforts to unlock more access to postgraduate study and build the specialist skilled workforce the UK needs – warning that progress at undergraduate level is not yet translating into equal opportunity for postgraduates.  

In a new briefing paper, Extending Opportunity: Widening Access to Postgraduate Study <https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2026-06/Extending%20Opportunity%20FINAL.pdf>, published on 2 June 2026 , the Russell Group highlights stubborn barriers to participation with progress to postgraduate study remaining uneven – despite postgraduate qualifications becoming increasingly important to the UK’s skills, research and growth ambitions. Financial barriers and unequal access to research experience and networks particularly affect student groups already underrepresented in higher education, blocking their progression to postgraduate study even when they perform well in an undergraduate degree. The Russell Group, whose 24 leading research universities collectively educate over half the UK’s postgraduate research (PGR) students, says these barriers mean the UK workforce is missing out on talented graduates with valuable experience and skills. Details at https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/unlock-opportunities-postgraduate-study-transform-uks-skills-base

Well done to University of Oxford colleagues for their University-wide Graduate Student Access Strategy. This is an excellent strategy for other universities in the UK to learn from. Details at  https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-06-01-why-oxford-is-making-graduate-access-a-priority

I would like to thank all colleagues at the University of Exeter for their excellent work for improving social mobility. Big thanks to all colleagues working on  Success for All <https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/vision/successforall/> programme, which focuses on widening participation, closing gaps in student outcomes, and building a diverse and inclusive learning environment, and the work undertaken to embed social justice and inclusion at the heart of its strategy, and in its curriculum and teaching.

https://news.exeter.ac.uk/university/exeter-hailed-university-of-the-year-for-its-outstanding-support-of-social-mobility/

I am grateful to everyone working for improving social mobility.

Best wishes

Suchith


> On 12 Jun 2026, at 13:57, Suchith Anand  wrote:
> 
> Dear colleagues,
> 
> I have been working and championing all through my career to provide more number of scholarships in universities for students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to university). In 2024, I wrote an open letter on Social Mobility Awareness Day to support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation students. 
> 
> Details at https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2024-May/006483.html
> https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk <https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk/>
> 
> Social Mobility is the link between someone’s socio-economic (or “class”) background – the social and economic circumstances they grew up in – and their own outcomes as adults (The Sutton Trust <https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/What-is-Social-Mobility.pdf>). This is typically influenced by income and occupation. Higher education can be a key driver of social mobility, and it’s crucial that universities break down barriers to opportunity to ensure that students, regardless of background, are supported to succeed.
> 
> Social Mobility Day exists to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.
> 
> Social mobility creates a more equal and fair society. Where opportunities to excel and achieve are available to everyone, regardless of where they started out in life. The aim of this day is to improve awareness of what social mobility is, why it is important, and how organisations can take action.
> Details at https://socialmobilityday.com/
> 
> On this year’s Social Mobility Day, I would like to request the UK government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to quality education opportunities for the 4 million children currently living in poverty in the UK. Access to quality education opportunities is a human right. There is a need for focused policies at the UK Government level about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher Education Institutes to comply.
> 
> Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery
> https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/
> 
> Poverty: facts and figures
> 4 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK
> Child poverty is high in the UK, and is projected to rise further.
> Details at  https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures
> 
> Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals
> https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9209/CBP-9209.pdf
> 
> 
> This report Billionaire Britain 2022: Inequality from the top down published by Equality Trust might be of interest. Details at  https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth
> 
> I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full scholarships for students from economically poor families and first generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK universities.
> 
> Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.
> 
> I am grateful to everyone working for improving social mobility.
> 
> Best wishes
> 
> Suchith
> 
> Professor Suchith Anand
> Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate
> https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131
> https://ethicaldatainitiative.org <https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/>
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