University of Bradford Tops Social Mobility Index, Chancellor Emphasizes Student Opportunities

The University of Bradford’s leading position on the English Social Mobility Index (SMI) demonstrates that its graduates are equipped to “go off and have incredible lives and jobs,” according to the university’s chancellor. The SMI evaluates how effectively higher education institutions improve their students’ life prospects, with Bradford having held the top spot in the SMI rankings since its inception in 2021. The university reports that 65% of its students come from the most socio-economically deprived backgrounds, and 79% are from the region. Anita Rani, a television presenter and the university’s chancellor, stated: “We’re giving opportunity to people who wouldn’t necessarily get these opportunities elsewhere.” The chancellor has launched a university scholarship program offering half-price fees to four female students who aspire to study STEM subjects. Reflecting on the student experience, she remarked: “The support the university gives them and all the added value they get from coming to Bradford, they are able to go off and have incredible lives and jobs afterwards.” The SMI assesses English universities registered with the Office for Students based on their contribution to social mobility, determined by the social distance achieved by their graduates. It integrates measures of access, student continuation, and graduate outcomes for undergraduate students. Professor Shirley Congdon, the university’s vice-chancellor, commented: “We are a place of inclusion where people can be themselves, be challenged, be supported.” She added: “What we really need is people to be included to get diversity of thought, to get diversity in the jobs where people are underrepresented.” The University of Bradford indicated its collaboration with companies such as Morrisons, the local NHS trust, and the accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to enhance employment opportunities in industries with underrepresented demographics. Professor Congdon acknowledged that the academic institution still needs to improve in fostering interest within the creative sector. “We need to do more work in encouraging people to think more broadly about what occupations they could get into rather than focusing more narrowly,” she said. She further suggested: “I think some of it is because they haven’t seen people in their own lives and families working in those industries and maybe there is a perception that it is difficult to work in because it’s different and it’s more of a portfolio career.” Jonathan O’Brien, 29, began his studies at the university after having a child, stating he had previously worked in “various low paying jobs.” The second-year mechanical engineering student expressed: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to study and get a degree.” He continued: “I didn’t have the grades to do the course but the university opened new channels so I could get on it – without that I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.” He further elaborated: “I have always had a fascination with engineering but I never felt like I could sit in a university and take notes during lectures, I do struggle with that.” He concluded: “But I have always liked fixing and making things.” The University of Bradford ranked first, ahead of Aston University in second place and the University of Wolverhampton in third.