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Widening access and participation in UK higher education

David Tonks (Department of Marketing, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK)
Marc Farr (Department of Marketing, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK)

International Journal of Educational Management

ISSN: 0951-354X

Article publication date: 1 February 2003

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Abstract

The general context for this paper is access to higher education (HE) in the UK but the particular concern is participation. An important distinction is drawn between access and participation. The heterogeneous characteristics of HE and the complex choice processes of applicants mean that a finer level of description and analysis is required which goes beyond aggregate measures of access and examines the extent and the nature of participation. Equality of opportunity provides the underpinning for this paper, access to HE is the starting point, the focus is on participation and the approach is empirical and pragmatic. In 2002, the target for access to UK HE was set at 50 percent, which requires attention to shift from broad measures of access towards detailed measures of participation; particularly when the agenda is one of social inclusion, and when certain groups within society are still significantly under‐represented and disadvantaged at the level of participation.

Keywords

Citation

Tonks, D. and Farr, M. (2003), "Widening access and participation in UK higher education", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 26-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540310456374

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited

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