Jo Wiggans
Director
Aimhigher Greater Manchester
Jo Wiggans is Director of Aimhigher Greater Manchester, a partnership of ten local authorities, 150+ high schools, 22 colleges, 7 higher education institutions plus workbased learning providers, Connexions services and others. The initiative has a budget of more than £5million per annum, most of which is devolved to partners to deliver targeted programmes of activities to encourage young people from underrepresented groups to progress to higher education. The programme for young people includes IAG interventions, summer schools, campus visits, masterclasses and curriculum enrichment, Aimhigher Associates and ambassadors.
Jo was formerly Assistant Director for the Open University in the North West where she worked for ten years on student support and retention, outreach and marketing and tutor development, and taught OU courses in the Social Science and Education faculties. She had previously worked for Leeds Metropolitan University and other providers teaching and designing courses in informal and community education, mentoring and supervision.
Her first job after graduation was as secretary to a private art dealer in Mayfair, selling Impressionist art to wealthy internationalists. Jo says that seeing how the other half live continues to fire her belief in widening participation in higher education.
Her first job after graduation was as secretary to a private art dealer in Mayfair, selling Impressionist art to wealthy internationalists. Jo says that seeing how the other half live continues to fire her belief in widening participation in higher education.
