Working Together to Expand the Pool of Art History Students 

Hilary Robinson, Loughborough University
Edward Wouk, The University of Manchester

Please note this is a workshop-style session.

This workshop is sponsored by the Association for Art History’s Higher Education Committee (HEC), a UK-wide body that serves the dual function of advising the AAH on matters of concern within the HE sector and organising, within a broader network, advocacy efforts regarding such matters.

Recruitment to art history and visual culture degrees in the UK is under pressure. Colleagues often complain about competing with other universities for students from a limited pool of applicants. The Office for Students’ ‘equality, diversity and inclusion’ agenda, and our own ethics, challenge us to recruit a greater number of students who are more diverse in gender, class, ethnicity, age and dis/ability.

This workshop is for colleagues in the UK HE sector to share experiences, good and bad, relating to student recruitment at a time of crisis in HE. We shall think collectively about effective models and new initiatives, building on mutual strength and collaboration. There will be short, informative presentations, followed by a structured discussion amongst all who attend. The aim is to learn from each other and to formulate specific, collaborative plans to increase the numbers and diversity of students and to find ways to continue this work together in the future.

Speakers:
 

• Catherine Hunt (University of Bristol)
• Amanda Millis and Astrid Korporaal 
• Emma Barker and Veronica Davies (The Open University)
• Abigail Moore and Sarah Richardson with Madeleine Newman (University of Leeds)