[Responsible-digital-futures] Social Mobility Day

[Suchith Anand]

Dear colleagues,


I have been working and championing all through my career to provide more
number of scholarships in universities for students from economically poor
families and first generation students (first in family to go to
university). In 2024, I wrote an open letter on *Social Mobility Awareness
Day to support the Universities UK campaign supporting first generation
students. *


Details at https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/geoforall/2024-May/006483.html

https://100faces.universitiesuk.ac.uk


Social Mobility is the link between someone’s socio-economic (or “class”)
background – the social and economic circumstances they grew up in – and
their own outcomes as adults (The Sutton Trust
<https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/What-is-Social-Mobility.pdf>).
This is typically influenced by income and occupation. Higher education can
be a key driver of social mobility, and it’s crucial that universities
break down barriers to opportunity to ensure that students, regardless of
background, are supported to succeed.


*Social Mobility Day* exists to promote wider conversations about social
mobility and to encourage action that brings about positive change.


Social mobility creates a more equal and fair society. Where opportunities
to excel and achieve are available to everyone, regardless of where they
started out in life. The aim of this day is to improve awareness of what
social mobility is, why it is important, and how organisations can take
action.

Details at https://socialmobilityday.com/


On this year’s Social Mobility Day, I would like to request the UK
government to share a clear action plan for ensuring the right to quality
education opportunities for the 4 million children currently living in
poverty in the UK. Access to quality education opportunities is a human
right. There is a need for focused policies at the UK Government level
about equitable education with a binding on Universities and the Higher
Education Institutes to comply.


*Child poverty, education and the postcode lottery*

https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2020/08/19/child-poverty-education-and-the-postcode-lottery/


*Poverty: facts and figures*

4 million children are growing up in poverty in the UK

Child poverty is high in the UK, and is projected to rise further.

Details at  https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-and-figures


*Food poverty: Households, food banks and free school meals*

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9209/CBP-9209.pdf



This report *Billionaire Britain 2022*: Inequality from the top down
published by Equality Trust might be of interest. Details at
https://equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth


I request the UK Government and all UK universities to provide more full
scholarships for students from economically poor families and first
generation students (first in family to go to University)  in all UK
universities.


Access to quality education opportunities is key for getting rid of poverty
and enabling broadly shared prosperity for all.


I am grateful to everyone working for improving social mobility.


Best wishes


Suchith


Professor Suchith Anand

Professor of Practice in Science Policy | Senior Adviser to Governments and
International Organisations | Scientist | Global Citizen | Science
Diplomacy |  SDG Volunteer and Advocate

https://spspa.exeter.ac.uk/people/profile/index.php?username=sa1131

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org
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