About

The UDRN is being set up as part of our new ESRC SDAI funded project on Socioeconomic inequalities of access to higher-tariff universities in 2020.

Professor Vikki Boliver has been working with UCAS data for a number of years and on a multiple projects that have contributed to our understanding of fairness and equality in accessing and experiencing higher education. The UDRN aims to draw on that expertise to 1) encourage other scholars to use this rich dataset for future research; 2) create a network of scholars who can discuss and share findings, methodologies, policy connections and project ambitions related to the dataset.

With the UDRN, we want to make prospective users of UCAS data aware that this data is now available for use in research via the Office for National Statistics Secure Research Service (ONS SRS). We aim to provide guidance in accessing the SRS to facilitate research that will be ethical, robust and impactful.

The UDRN will organise events (virtually and, on occasion, in person!) to provides spaces to explore ideas for research, identify research synergies and potential collaborations, share and discuss research findings with each other, and disseminate research evidence and recommendations with higher education policy makers and practitioners.

The UDRN welcomes ideas and initiative from its members to organise particular kinds of events, workshops, seminars or webinars. The involvement of the members in shaping the direction of the network is an important part of the UDRN. Read more here.