SUPPORT TO ENABLE TALENTED YOUNG PUPILS FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS IN LIEGE, LA LOUVIERE AND ANTWERP TO PREPARE SUCCESSFULLY FOR HIGHER OR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Introduction

In 2012, the SofineBoël Fund decided to embark on an initiative for teenagers in schools, based on a simple observation: in recent years, equality of access to higher education has increased, but equality of outcomes has not. Statistically, the chances of success in higher education for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are much lower. Many of these young people are talented in different areas. However, they may underutilise their skills if they are not given appropriate support.

The Boost for Talents programme aims to enhance the skills of talented young pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to make significant progress in their academic and personal development, and to gain access to and succeed in higher education in line with their skills and interests. They will then serve as models for their home and school environments.

The cities of Liège and Antwerp have been chosen by theSofinaBoël Fund, because the universities in these two large cities offer a full range of courses.

The support given to each young person lasts for four years and follows this programme:

• Year 1 : maximising chances of success at school and self-knowledge
• Year 2 : exploring different professions, personal expression and mentoring
• Year 3 : springboard to higher education
• Year 4 : monitoring to help ensure success in the first year of higher education