The secrets of successful university outreach

Outreach programmes allow universities to share their knowledge. When institutions and academics work with schools, they illuminate the path into higher education, demystify the “ivory tower”, build trust with communities and widen participation. The classic formats of workshops, summer camps, school visits and campus tours have expanded into lab placements, festivals, virtual reality experiences and competitions. The idea is to help the next generation of scientists, educators, leaders and citizens connect what they learn in the classroom to the wider world and, often, imagine higher education as part of their future. This approach can also extend to adults, when education programmes take skills and knowledge to community groups and prisons. 

For academics, outreach activities are an opportunity to develop collaboration, project management and interpersonal skills such as empathy. This can have knock-on benefits for public engagement, science communications and student recruitment. 

Successful outreach is not about imposing university expertise on schools (or other environments) but understanding where knowledge will inform, connect and inspire. At its best, it is a two-way relationship that builds trust. In a screen-mediated world, in-person visits and hands-on experiences make learning human – and fun.

This collection includes expert advice on defining what you want to achieve, how to get started, creating engaging content, outreach to ease the transition from school to university, how to scale outreach, and out-of-the-box ideas.

How to get started with university outreach

The prospect of enthralling a class of 10-year-olds with science can be both thrilling and daunting. So, draw on the expertise shared here to begin the process – from how to find support at your university and defining your outreach aims to maintaining partnerships and measuring success.

New to schools outreach? Here’s how to get started: Carl Harrington from the University of East Anglia shares tips for delivering outreach experiences that build on existing knowledge and help young people make informed decisions about their future – whether they include higher education or not.

University outreach starts with a simple question: When it comes to outreach, are you building a cohort or expanding opportunity? Being clear about your goal can transform how universities design, deliver and assess outreach, writes Walter Lee from Virginia Tech.

How academics can support a lasting STEM pipeline: Inspiring future generations of scholars demands more than a one-time introduction to science or engineering. Lasting impact comes from ongoing learning experiences, mentorship and institutional support, writes Keisha Simmons from Georgia Tech.

Why one-way university outreach falls short: If outreach work is not also about listening, universities risk reinforcing their “ivory tower” reputation. Real impact comes from co-creating knowledge with communities, as Pipiet Larasatie from Virginia Tech explains.

Where to position pre-16 outreach in the university structure: Steve Briggs and Paula Page from the University of Bedfordshire outline nine benefits of placing your pre-16 outreach team within a teaching, learning and library directorate.

Advice for connecting with primary schools

Children as young as six to inquisitive pre-teens need programmes and content that are age-appropriate and don’t overwhelm their enthusiasm. STEM is often a focus with outreach, but these techniques will help scholars of any discipline engage young learners. Read on to learn more.

How to get primary school pupils interested in STEM: Academics often lack the skills to engage with very young audiences, which can make STEM feel abstract. Charlotte Maughan Jones from UCL shares tips on using the right language and understanding what’s important to schools.

How to bring university science into primary schools: Engaging primary-school-age children with STEM will help them to think critically and develop informed opinions for the rest of their lives. Here, Farah Jaber-Hijazi from the University of the West of Scotland explains how to do it.

School visits are a triple-win for academics, schools and society: For researchers, taking science into the community can hone communication skills, increase impact and enthuse children to pursue their own university studies, writes Ben Kennedy from the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha.

Lessons in running a young scholars programme: Widening access to higher education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds is a priority for UK universities. Here, Valsa Koshy from Brunel University London outlines lessons from a successful programme for primary school pupils.

How to reach secondary school students

For older students, more advanced experiences can give them a taste of what a career in science might look like, helping to reinforce the value and appeal of university. For academics, though, welcoming teens into working environments, such as laboratories, requires careful organisation, from time management to safety considerations, as these resources explain.

How to make work experience work for scientists and school students alike: Giving more secondary school students opportunities to experience working in a research lab means addressing faculty capacity, write Kathryn Woods-Townsend and Kate Bartlett from the University of Southampton.

Outreach programmes that lay STEM pathways and strengthen research skills: Help local schools build the foundations for future STEM students, address regional issues and hone your students’ research management skills. Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu and Marius Bumbac from Valahia University of Târgoviște share advice.

Encouragement and talent development for future scientists: Secondary school students need access to practical laboratory experience and career guidance. Mamta Sharma from the Wellcome Sanger Institute explores ways to introduce budding researchers to the lab setting and broaden scientific horizons.

Using outreach to boost attainment and widen participation

Strengthening the pipeline to university, particularly for under-represented groups, often involves working closely with schools. This might go without saying, but it’s easier said than done. Key considerations include clarity around goals, building relationships based on co-creation, tutor training and evaluating success, as these articles explain.

Widen access to higher education by improving school attainment: With school attainment a key driver of progression to university, outreach must go beyond traditional interventions to widen access. UCL’s Matthew Lucas offers five evidence-led ways to design educationally robust programmes.

Why investment earlier in the pipeline would strengthen diversity in STEM: Persistent inequities in uptake of science, engineering, technology and mathematics begin before college. Drawing on evidence from K-12 talent development programmes, Keisha Simmons from Georgia Tech offers practical guidance.

Bridging the gap between high school and university

Academic attainment is one part of the preparation for higher education; another aspect is belonging and students being able to picture themselves in the hallways and libraries of large, often imposing institutions. These articles explain how universities can break down perceived barriers and showcase what potential students can expect.

‘The experience of mixing with peers from other schools and engaging with university life is transformational’: By building a bridge between high school and university, outreach teams can foster aspiration and support students who might not otherwise pursue higher education, writes Gillian Lavercombe from the University of the West of Scotland.

What makes a good university taster event? Showing a course’s real-world applications and linking to potential students’ studies will help your taster event turn interest into enrolments. Russell Woodward and Amanda Markey from University Centre Grimsby: The TEC Partnership offer tips.

Using university library outreach to demystify the transition from high school to higher education: Outreach initiatives can introduce potential students to the support on campus, develop their research skills and instil a sense of belonging before they arrive. Kealin McCabe from the University of Northern British Columbia outlines approaches.

How a mathematics competition can develop future university students: A national initiative demonstrated how maths can bridge the gap between school and university. Rabie Zine from Al Akhawayn University explains how it can develop students’ soft skills.

Innovative ways to make outreach experiences memorable

Universities’ drive to distinguish themselves is pushing outreach beyond classroom demonstrations. These resources share innovative ways to ignite young imaginations and highlight academics’ creativity in sharing their work. Read on for inspiration and ideas – from virtual reality to a television-inspired way to test students’ legal logic.

Inspire the next generation of bioengineering lab technicians: STEM outreach workshops can encourage school students to pursue careers as laboratory research scientists. Nana Asante Asamoah-Danso from Imperial College London offers advice on creating memorable and engaging experiences.

Make university study tangible with VR: Virtual reality can help bring complex disciplines to life, widen access and build stronger partnerships with schools. Learn how from UCL’s Stephen Hilton and Blanka Hilton from the University of Kent.

Walls into walkways: Access to library spaces in preparation for exams is helping secondary school students find a pathway into university. Here, three senior library assistants explain how Dublin City University Library has made them feel welcome.

Snails, Jaffa Cakes and rubber ducks: Outreach initiatives like School Tasking show how academics can break down barriers, engage young learners, and make higher education feel accessible rather than intimidating. Ali Struthers from the University of Warwick and Taskmaster host Alex Horne explain.

Lessons in running workshops to train students in basic electronics: Workshops that train pre-university students in open-source electronics can broaden access to and knowledge of readily available technology. Jorge N. Gutiérrez from Technological University of Uruguay shares a guide for how to design them.

Strategies for reaching adult learners wherever they are

When universities take their teaching and research beyond campus, they bring value to communities and society in sometimes unexpected ways. A prison programme fosters confidence in men looking to gain employability skills and rebuild dignity, while an interdisciplinary programme takes university from impossible to achievable.

What learning behind bars can teach us about the university classroom: A partnership with a prison helped one educator see her university teaching in a different light. Find out how from the University of Westminster’s Sobia Razzaq.

How to build a bridge from adversity to university: In this video, academics from the University of Chichester explain the elements – initial outreach, support and an interdisciplinary approach – behind the success of a bridging programme.