Edge Hill Professor receives New Year's honour

Professor Rhiannon Evans, Director of Action on Access has been awarded an MBE for services to higher education and widening participation in the New Year's Honours List 2009.

Prof Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Edge Hill University until May 2008, said: "I feel proud, privileged and quite humbled by the award. I received the letter inviting me to accept the MBE in November and had to keep the news to myself, which was very difficult.

"Although it was my name at the top of the letter, I must acknowledge my debt to all my colleagues throughout my career, and particular at Edge Hill, which is recognised nationally as one of the top five universities for its commitment and innovation in widening access.

"I am particularly proud that, because of Edge Hill's excellent reputation, the Funding Council awarded the University the contract to lead the national co-ordination team for widening participation. Action on Access has just received its second three-year contract and it will continue to work with universities, colleges and schools across the country to help raise aspirations of all young people to fulfil their educational potential."

Moving to the North West from Brighton in 1979, Prof Evans was a senior lecturer at Wirral Metropolitan College, becoming a Head of Faculty. She set up the first Access to University and Women Returner courses in the area and significantly developed the college's higher education provision. As a result of this, she has served on numerous national and regional committees.

The work Prof Evans has carried out during her 40-year-long career has helped open up routes for people from non-traditional backgrounds to move into further and higher education.

Prof Evans said: "There is still a social class gap in UK higher education despite the significant rise in participation by young people in general. Young people from professional backgrounds are twice as likely to go to university as their counterparts from skilled or semi-skilled backgrounds. After almost a decade of collaborative working, we are beginning to see some positive trends which start to close the gap."

Dr John Cater, Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University said: "The University has a significant debt to Rhiannon who has played a considerable part in establishing Edge Hill's strong reputation for widening access to higher education, both nationally and internationally.

"The Lifelong Learning Network, the location of the national Action on Access team, past leadership for Aim Higher, would, in all probability, not have happened without her.

"It is particularly pleasing to see the extent of her contribution being recognised nationally, with her nomination forwarded through Higher Education Funding Council for England and Universities UK for consideration by the Prime Minister's Office. Warmest congratulations, Rhiannon."