Mathematical and Statistical Support Service at South Bank University

There is a considerable amount of attention now being given to the Government’s ‘widening participation’ policy. Broadly speaking Higher Education (HE) institutions are expected to reach out to disadvantaged people who come from backgrounds where they would not traditionally be expected to enter HE. Taking this on board and the points raised by in the 2001 Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications (IMA) report to its members highlighting concerns about the “development in, and adequate provision of, mathematics education” South Bank University (SBU) set up a central mathematics and statistics support service. HE establishments trying to provide education and support on these two fronts face a daunting task. At SBU we have tried to provide and sustain support to address mathematical and statistical concerns…During 1998, SBU made a strategic decision to fund central academic support for all students. The support service aims to provide students, researchers and lecturers with one off classes, short courses and one to one sessions as well as on-going support…