Research and Evaluation in Access and Participation

Additionally, it's important that our research outputs are aligned to the strategic interventions of our Access and Participation Plan and aim to address issues specific to AUB’s unique context. It's expected that any original research undertaken contributes to regional and national discourses in the Access and Participation arena.

We regularly collaborate with other departments across AUB, and with external organisations to develop and ensure our research is impactful and relevant across local and national issues.

AUB has taken a student life cycle approach to supporting students who have experience of care or estrangement and has designed a progression framework to support this. The project constitutes a longitudinal study evaluating the effectiveness of the framework to meet its intended aims and outcomes. It follows each cohort of students from enrolment to graduation and beyond, collecting data from surveys, focus groups and monitoring forms.

More information about the support we offer to our care experienced and estranged students can be found below.

The Boys Who Care project utilised the creative writing workshop in the Being a Boy 2024 series as a mechanism by which young men could explore and engage in reflection on the role that care, and masculinity played within their own lives and experiences. The mobilisation of creativity as a vehicle to construct a safe and engaging space meant that the young men taking part felt able to share and reflect on their experiences openly. To gain a deeper understanding and insight into their experiences semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the pieces of creative writing were used a reflective tool to focus those conversations.

Published in April 2025, and produced in partnership between Arts University Bournemouth, Boys’ Impact, and MYTIME Young Carers – the Boys Who Care report shines a light on the experience of young male carers in the UK education system.