It's a First! Youngsters set sights on university after campus day

Dozens of young learners from around Leicester have been inspired to future success after spending the day at De Montfort University (DMU).

Pupils from Barley Croft Centre, in Beaumont Leys, were shown around campus, set tasks in an electronics lab and tasked with delivering presentations during a busy day organised in partnership with national social mobility charity IntoUniversity.

For 10-year-old Fadhil Khamis, the visit to DMU changed his idea of what a university was.

He said: “I thought it was just lots of halls of residences but I’ve seen loads of different rooms today, full of different equipment.

“I’d not really thought of going to university before but I learned about hydrology and I’d really like to do that when I’m older.”

After a campus tour, the pupils were taken to an electronic lab in DMU’s Queen’s Building where they were challenged to complete an electrical circuit and light an LED.

Thea Jean-Pierre, 10, said she enjoyed the experience.

She said: “I’d like to do something in science when I’m older, making things like that. I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the different rooms and buildings today.”

After a busy morning learning, the children were asked to give presentations on subjects like robotics, in front of an audience of friends and family in one of the university’s lecture theatres in the Hugh Aston Building.

Then they were presented with certificates in a mock-graduation, where they dressed in full gowns and caps.

The events capped off a week-long programme of activity in one of the first projects run by Leicester’s new IntoUniversity centre, which is a collaborative partnership between IntoUniversity, the University of Leicester and De Montfort University.

The centre, in Beaumont Leys, offers after-school academic support to people aged seven to 18 in Leicester, as well as a variety of other workshops, university visits, mentoring opportunities and aspiration-raising activities all designed to give them the skills, confidence and information to make informed choices about their future and ultimately reach their full potential.

Tasleem Patel, IntoUniversity Leicester Centre Leader, said that for many of the children, the visit would have been their first experience of university.

She said: “While we know the graduation wasn’t real, for them it would felt totally real and it will have expanded their horizons, allowed them to see themselves at university.

“At IntoUniversity, we work with young people from less privileged areas, disadvantaged areas, and we want to raise their aspirations, help them to see how possible it is to go to university.

“Many of these children started the day unwilling to even put up their hands and speak. Now they have given a presentation in front of an audience and graduated, which is really satisfying to see.”