Organisation of the Network
NERUPI Team
Annette Hayton convenes NERUPI (Network for Evaluating and Researching University Participation Interventions) She was previously Head of Widening Participation at the University of Bath and at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has many years of experience in managing activities designed to support successful progression to higher education as well as developing strategies to ensure that all students have a positive experience of university study. Annette is interested in how educational theory, research and evaluation can be developed and applied in practice to promote positive change within the education system, aiming to combine theory and practice in her work. She is co-developer of the NERUPI Framework and has published a number of books and articles on widening participation and is Innovative Practice Editor for the journal ‘Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning’. Annette is a member of ICHEM (International Centre for Higher Education Management) at the University of Bath and a Trustee of Midsomer Norton Schools' Partnership (MNSP) leading the Bath Hub.
Dr Sally Griffin joined the NERUPI team in March 2022 as a NERUPI Research and Development Officer. She has worked in widening participation for twenty years and prior to joining NERUPI was the Access and Participation Manager at Bath Spa University, where she wrote and reported on the university’s Access Agreements, Widening Participation Strategic Assessments and Access and Participation Plans, and managed activities designed to support successful progression to higher education. A strong supporter of the importance of collaboration to widen participation, Sally has been involved in a number of national and regional boards and steering groups including Aimhigher, the local Uni Connect Wessex Inspiration Network and the Service Children's Progression (SCiP) Alliance. Bath Spa University was an early adopter of the NERUPI Framework, participating in the pilot and development stage so Sally has direct experience of applying NERUPI in practice. Sally supports the working groups on Access and Participation Plans, Uni Connect, and Student Ambassadors.
Joanne Moore joined the NERUPI team in March 2023 and has a background in policy research before coming to work in widening particpation, holding research and evaluation roles at the University of Manchester and Open University. She has supported practitioner led evaluation including developing evaluation tools and materials, and a collaborative project to support evaluation of the impact of outreach.
Fatmata Daramy is one of the co-leads of the Student and Staff Race and Ethnic Equity working group (SsREE), as well as a part-time research assistant for NERUPI (Network for Evaluating and Researching University Participation Interventions). She has previously worked in various roles related to widening participation for Aimhigher Plus at Aston University, at the Coventry University Group as a Widening Participation Specialist, and at The University of Law as a Widening Participation and Student Success Manager. In previous roles, she developed her research, skills by designing and implementing research into the experience of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students. Additionally, she has designed and delivered training for academic staff pertaining to inclusive and anti-racist curriculum design, sense of belonging, and imposter syndrome. Fatmata has also delivered racial literacy training and unconscious bias training to academic and business professional staff.
She is also interested in neuroscience, having completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (Neuroscience) and her MSc in Educational Neuroscience. As such, she aims to view widening participation, social justice, and equity through both a scientific and sociological lens.
Fatmata is now a PhD researcher at The University of Leicester, currently completing a research project that examines mental wellbeing for domicile students of colour (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) in Higher Education Institutions and the role of Student Wellbeing Services and related staff (counsellors, frontline staff, and personal tutors) within this experience.
Lauren Curtis joined the NERUPI team in June 2022 as the NERUPI Administrator. Having previously worked as a Widening Participation Outreach Officer at the University of Bath for 6 years she is making good use of her experience to support with the administration for NERUPI. She also has experience of working in diversity and inclusion, in a charity that supports young people and in a youth offending team. Lauren is currently retraining to become a dietitian and so works for NERUPI on a part-time basis.
Academic Advisory Board
NERUPI is advised and supported by an Academic Advisory Board.
Dr Andrew Bengry, Bath Spa University, co-developer of the NERUPI Framework, sits on the board permanently as Academic Adviser.
The board is chaired by Professor Nicola Ingram, University College Cork
and also includes:
Professor Paul Ashwin, Lancaster University
Professor Vikki Boliver, Durham University
Dr Matt Dickson, University of Bath
Dr Constantino Dumangane Jr, University of York
Dr Clare Gartland, University of Suffolk
Professor Margaret Greenfields, ARU
Professor Marie-Pierre Moreau, Anglia Ruskin University
Professor Richard Waller, UWE Bristol
Dr Mark Walmsley, University of East Anglia
Dr Anna Anthony, HEAT
Annette Hayton, Senior Research Fellow and NERUPI Convenor, University of Bath
NERUPI Steering Group
The NERUPI Steering Group consists of representatives from participating organisations.
NERUPI Steering Group
Annette Hayton, Senior Research Fellow and NERUPI Convenor, University of Bath (Chair)
Dr Sally Griffin, NERUPI Development Officer, University of Bath (Steering Group Coordinator)
Sumaya Ahmed, Lecturer, London South Bank University
Renata Albuquerque, Access and Student Success Manager, SOAS
Jo Astley, Evaluation and Evidence Manager, University of Derby
Amy Burt, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, University of Kent
Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement, London Met University
Marva De La Coudray, Director of Teaching and Learning, London Metropolitan University
David Dobraszczyk, Student Recruitment & Access Officer, University of Reading
Robyn Long, Senior Research and Evaluation Manager, University of Sussex
Sheree Palmer, Access and Participation Manager, Manchester University
Dave Thomas, Associate Lecturer, Solent University
Anthea Rose, Research Fellow, University of Lincoln
Amina Razak, Research Associate, Newcastle University
NERUPI Member Organisations
A list of our current members can be found here: Our Members
