Quality education extends beyond the classroom. Through our policies, support services, learning environments and community outreach activities, we work to ensure that learners from all backgrounds can access higher education, succeed during their studies and continue to develop their skills throughout their lives.
Our approach combines widening participation, student support, employability, lifelong learning and educational outreach, helping to create opportunities for current students, future learners and local communities.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment that enables students to achieve their full potential. This commitment was recognised through ARU's Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which identified outstanding performance in areas including student engagement, learning resources, academic support, student success and educational gains. The assessment highlighted the University's innovative course design, strong support structures and sustained investment in teaching and learning, helping students develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to thrive both during their studies and beyond graduation.
As a modern civic university, ARU also plays an active role in expanding educational opportunity across the region. Through widening participation initiatives, degree apprenticeships, mentoring programmes, careers support, school engagement activities and award-winning summer schools, we aim to remove barriers to education and support learners at every stage of their educational journey. By creating pathways into higher education, supporting lifelong learning and helping students successfully transition into employment, ARU contributes to the ambitions of Sustainable Development Goal 4: ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Opening pathways into higher education for all
ARU is committed to ensuring that higher education is accessible to learners from all backgrounds. Through our Access and Participation Plan, we work to promote equality of opportunity, improve student outcomes and support progression into and through higher education. Our latest Access and Participation Plan covers the period 2025-2029 and details how our work promotes equality of opportunity for all.
To advance our inclusive agenda, we engage directly with students from underrepresented groups in the design of support services and initiatives, including Race Equality Advocates. In 2023, we were delighted to be recognised for our work to advance race equity with a Bronze Race Equality Charter award. We're one of 38 UK universities who have achieved Bronze status, while only one has achieved Silver.
By embedding widening participation across the University, ARU helps remove barriers to education and create opportunities for learners who may be the first in their family to attend university.
Creating a supportive learning environment
ARU is committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and high-quality learning environment that enables students to succeed. In 2023, the University received a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), the highest rating available, with ARU's student experience and outcomes judged to be outstanding. The assessment highlighted the quality of our course design, learning resources, academic support, student engagement and approaches to supporting student success.
The TEF review also recognised ARU's integrated approach to student support, including the Welcome Buddy scheme, wellbeing provision, employability services and academic support systems. Together, these initiatives help students develop confidence, build a sense of belonging and achieve their educational potential throughout their studies.
Preparing students for lifelong success
ARU supports students to develop the knowledge, skills and experience needed to succeed beyond graduation. Through our Careers and Employability Service, students have access to placements, employer-led projects, volunteering opportunities, careers advice and enterprise support. ARU also provides lifelong careers support through its Alumni Career Centre, enabling graduates to continue accessing professional guidance throughout their careers.
Our commitment to employability was recognised through ARU's Gold-rated TEF assessment, which highlighted initiatives including Career Pulse, employer-informed curriculum design and industry engagement. More than 9,000 students participated in Career Pulse activities over a two-year period, helping them prepare for employment, further study and professional development. In addition, ARU's Mentoring programme connects students with experienced professionals from a wide range of industries. The programme is open to all students and provides targeted support for groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education and graduate employment, helping learners build confidence, develop networks and improve career readiness.
Supporting lifelong learning through degree apprenticeships
ARU is one of the leading providers of degree apprenticeships in the UK, creating flexible routes into higher education that enable learners to earn while they learn. Apprentices are enrolled across 29 different degree pathways, covering subjects from nursing to engineering and data science.
As of 2025, ARU has had over 6,400 apprentices enrolled and has struck partnerships with more than 1,000 employers – a major milestone that recognises growing demand from both employers and learners. These partnerships support workforce development, address regional skills shortages and provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to access higher education and progress in their careers. Through degree apprenticeships, ARU contributes directly to lifelong learning, professional development and economic growth across our region.
Inspiring future learners
ARU works closely with schools, colleges and community partners to encourage educational aspiration and support progression into higher education. Through a programme of free subject taster days, learners can meet academic staff, explore specialist facilities and gain first-hand experience of university study. These activities help young people make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways while supporting schools in delivering high-quality careers education.
Our outreach activities are designed to support the Gatsby Benchmarks and provide meaningful encounters with higher education, particularly for learners who may not otherwise have access to university experiences. By opening our campuses to thousands of prospective students and delivering targeted widening participation initiatives, ARU helps raise aspirations, build confidence and create pathways into higher education for future generations of learners.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.