Pembroke Graduate Founds Scheme to Help Bright Students Get to Top-Tier Universities

Former Pembroke student Naveed Javaid (Economics and Management, 2012) has recently set up a scheme called The Aspire Programme with the aim of encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to aspire to academically challenging universities.

The scheme intends to target school pupils with great academic potential but for whom applying to a top-tier university would not be an obvious or easy decision, such those with low parental income or who are a first generation university applicant.

Naveed believes that a lack of information for some school pupils about the university application process can lead to the underrepresentation of certain groups at universities like Oxford, Cambridge or Durham. The Aspire Programme is intended to bridge the gap between expectations and potential for bright students of all backgrounds applying to academically elite universities.

As the scheme develops, selected school pupils will be matched with university students or graduates, who will act as role models and provide advice and encouragement via email and Skype. These mentors will be committed to encouraging participating students to achieve their goals and gain access to the best academic opportunities for them.

The Aspire Programme grew from Naveed’s personal experiences applying to and studying at Oxford: ‘Like many others, I came to Oxford with doubts. I questioned whether Oxford was for someone like me – a first generation university student, comprehensively educated and son of a Pakistani migrant.’

However, having settled in and made the most of his university experience, Naveed now wants to find a way to ensure all students with the academic potential to succeed at Oxford have the confidence to make an application to the institution of their choice: ‘I look back at my time at Oxford with a great deal of appreciation and recognise that I was incredibly fortunate – I now want to try and help others get that same opportunity… I made some incredible friends and have memories that I will cherish forever.’

The Aspire Programme is still in the early stages and trials are currently being set up at schools in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.