The University of Leeds’ Middle Ground Network is an initiative designed to support underrepresented younger mature students, typically aged 21-30, by fostering a sense of belonging and improving retention rates. Established in December 2022, this innovative network aligns with our institutional Access and Student Success Strategy, in which belonging is a central focus.
The network’s inception can be traced back to a mature undergraduate student's plea for help. This student, aged 28, highlighted the difficulty of forming connections with peers in their age range, illuminating a gap in our support systems. This feedback catalysed subsequent investigations, revealing that younger mature students often felt isolated and lacked peer connections, a reality corroborated by data from a mature-focused peer-to-peer scheme.
Only 10% of mature undergraduates at Leeds are over 36, making it clear that the needs of younger mature students warranted focused intervention. Thus, the Middle Ground Network was launched, and since its inception, it has made significant strides in fostering a sense of belonging among younger mature students, providing compelling evidence for supporting this group in higher education.
Encouraging connections
Younger mature students, representing 67% of mature undergraduates at the University of Leeds, typically did not engage in previously available mature student support activities. Their feedback highlighted significant challenges in connecting with peers of similar age, adversely affecting their sense of belonging and overall student experience.
In response, the Middle Ground Network was co-created with input from student interns from the target demographic, who acted as ‘Engagement Coordinators’. This network enhances social interaction through a variety of events, both in-person and virtual, tailored to fit the diverse schedules of younger mature students.
With a registration process allowing self-identification as younger mature students, by the end of the 2022/23 academic year we recorded 169 registrants, with notable levels of engagement and sustained participation.
The impact
Following each event, 96% of participating students affirmed that their sense of belonging at the University of Leeds had strengthened, and 83% intended to maintain connections with peers they met through the network. Surveys indicated a 21% increase in the sense of belonging among students after they engaged with the network, with 76% acknowledging its positive impact.
The initial year, 2022/23, saw 169 younger mature students register for the Middle Ground Network. This number rose to 234 participants for the 2023/24 academic year, even accounting for graduates from the previous year, demonstrating impressive growth and continued interest.
Feedback from students underscores the impact and appreciation for the Network:
- “I think Middle Ground could definitely put the University of Leeds above any other uni.”
- “I was introduced for the first time to a community of students of a similar age who have a similar university experience as me.”
- “It was great not to feel like an outlier in a large group of people, which is how I commonly feel in a lot of areas at university.”
- “I didn't realise how much I needed it and the difference in conversations.”
- “I’m very glad it exists! I feel like it fulfils an area of support and community that was lacking.”
To find out more about the Middle Ground Network, get in touch by emailing studentsuccess@leeds.ac.uk.