What is Seren?
Seren is the Welsh Government’s flagship initiative supporting more able and talented learners in schools and colleges across Wales to access quality higher education opportunities in Wales, across the UK and around the world.
Seren is made up of the following distinct areas of support for young people across Wales: Seren Academy, Seren Foundation, Seren International, and Seren Graduates.
New Seren collaborations for 2022
Professional Learning Programme for Educators
Through this programme, launched in March 2022, we’re supporting teachers across Wales to better support More Able & Talented (MAT) learners, through a series of live training sessions & workshops and on demand content made available from a wide range of partners including leading universities and leaders in the field of widening access.
To get involved, please get in touch with Lindsey Dawson, Senior Associate STEM & Professional Learning lindsey.dawson@equaleducationpartners.com
Seren Space | Gofod Seren – Digital Platform
The Seren Space digital platform, launching in September 2022, will be the online home of the Seren programme for all learners, educators and partners involved in the Welsh Government’s flagship initiative to improve access to competitive higher education destinations for Wales’ brightest young people. This platform will streamline our running of the programme, further expand the opportunities available to young people and enhance our ability to measure and optimise our impact over time.
To find out more, contact Lois Williams, Project Manager (Higher Education), lois.williams@equaleducationpartners.com.
Seren University Admissions Mentoring
The Seren University Admissions Mentoring Programme supports learners through 3 main streams: Oxbridge, International and Subject Specific. The aim of the programme is to support learners with their applications to top universities, whichever their stream of choice. Learners receive tailored 1 to 1 mentoring from current or recent undergraduate students from their university and subject of interest. This focuses on personal statements, admissions tests, interview prep and life at university.
To get involved, please get in touch with Lindsey Dawson, Senior Associate STEM & Professional Learning lindsey.dawson@equaleducationpartners.com
Seren International Opportunities
Seren International Online Summer School
The Seren International Online Summer School initiative built in partnership with Jesus College at the University of Oxford enrolled over 100 learners in 2020 and 300 learners in 2021. In 2022, the Seren International Online Summer School will support 400 learners across Wales. To find out more, contact Lois Williams, Project Manager (Higher Education), by emailing lois.williams@equaleducationpartners.com
International Study Mentoring Programme
Through this programme, launched in February 2022, we’re supporting first year Seren Academy learners (those in year 12 or their first year at a further education college) across Wales to explore the possibilities for studying internationally. This is being done through a series of live sessions, one-to-one mentoring and on demand content made available from a wide range of partners including leading universities, university admissions specialists, and Seren graduates studying overseas.
To get involved (as a mentor or mentee), please get in touch with Lindsey Dawson, Senior Associate STEM & Professional Learning, lindsey.dawson@equaleducationpartners.com
Seren Partnering with Welsh Universities
Prifysgol Aberystwyth University
We collaborated with Aberystwyth University to offer the first Seren summer school in Wales, and the first summer school for Seren Foundation learners in July 2022. The summer school saw 66 learners attending a 3-day programme around the theme of Climate Literacy and provided them with an opportunity to gain invaluable insight to what it’s like to be a university student.
We are building upon this programme to offer an even better programme for Seren learners in summer 2023! Keep an eye out for application details coming soon.
For details contact Lois Williams, HE Partnerships Manager by emailing lois.williams@equaleducationpartners.com.
Collaborations with all other Welsh universities
Seren is committed to supporting universities in Wales and we are building upon existing relationships with the excellent Higher Education Institutions that are on our doorstep to offer summer schools at each Welsh university over the next three years. Our pilot collaboration with Aberystwyth University was the first step in developing this exciting programme which offers Seren Foundation learners an insight into university life, and provides them with an opportunity to deepen their intellectual curiosity with rigorous academic sessions.
Planning for this programme of summer schools is well underway – expect details about our summer 2023 programmes soon!
For details contact Lois Williams, HE Partnerships Manager by emailing lois.williams@equaleducationpartners.com.