Partner Article

University game goes a step further

A board game that aims to encourage youngsters to go on to university has proved so successful following its launch in the North East that it is being rolled out to other parts of the UK.

Star Student is a giant floor game that introduces the concept of Higher Education to high school pupils in an innovative and interactive way, covering subjects from social life to finance.

Launched last autumn in Tyneside and Wearside, it proved such a hit with teachers and pupils alike that it has since been rolled out in Northumberland and County Durham and is now being made available to universities across the UK to help widen participation.

Lee-ann White, Northumbria’s Education Liaison Officer, said: “The game has proved a real hit with 12 and 13 year olds across the North East and we’re fully booked for the rest of this academic year and into the next. We realise this game has real potential for universities to help widen participation to Higher Education across the UK and we are now making it widely available so that more youngsters can benefit.”

Northumbria will charge a nominal fee to other universities who want to access the game and will invest the proceeds from the intellectual property rights and provision of the game equipment back into the scheme in the North East.

Lee-ann explains: “We know from feedback from teachers and focus groups with pupils that it is making a major impact on changing attitudes and raising aspirations. It’s a win win scenario and the perfect way to encourage the youngsters - it’s a game which is not just informative but also great fun to play.”

Any higher education establishment wanting further information about the scheme can contact Lee-ann direct at lee-ann.white@northumbria.ac.uk or visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/starstudent to access video and audio footage as well as teacher and pupil feedback.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .