Collaboration with the Royal Economic Society's Discover Economics Campaign

The partnership seeks to strengthen the early pipeline into economics by encouraging a more diverse range of young people to study and pursue careers in the discipline.

By broadening access, awareness and perceptions of economics at an early stage, it aims to build a more diverse pipeline of future economists and address representation gaps further along the career pathway.

Discover Economics is a UK campaign led by the Royal Economic Society which aims to broaden the appeal of economics to potential students, change their perceptions of economics and economists and attract more students from under-represented groups (women, state school/further education college students, and ethnic minorities).

The campaign targets 15-17-year-olds: young people who are making choices about what post 16 qualifications to take and what subjects to study at university.

The Hub collaborated with them on a Student Champion Outreach programme and on deeper research and advocacy around the barriers to young girls taking economics.

This latter project led in collaboration with faculty from other universities that sought to engage female students aged 15 - 17 (pre-university) to challenge stereotypes and spark an interest in economics.

The project had two strands:

1. focus groups with young females and
2. testing for potential gender bias from key influencers such as career advisors.

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