Both nationally and internationally there is a drive to increase participation in post-compulsory education. Yet with existing participation rates already high by historical standards, it is not easy to see how this can be done. Now Liz Thomas provides a comprehensive guide. From an analysis of the motives for expansion and the reasons why students enroll--or fail to enroll--through to a critical analysis of existing and innovative schemes, the author highlights good practice and explains ways to develop a strategic approach to widening participation.

The context for this book is the expansion of post-compulsory education and the planned further expansion. It critically examines existing initiatives in order to show the implications for best practice. Topics include motivation, barriers to entry and existing strategies.

Both nationally and internationally there is a drive to increase participation in post-compulsory education. Yet with existing participation rates already high by historical standards, it is not easy to see how this can be done. Now Liz Thomas provides a comprehensive guide. From an analysis of the motives for expansion and the reasons why students enroll--or fail to enroll--through to a critical analysis of existing and innovative schemes, the author highlights good practice and explains ways to develop a strategic approach to widening participation.

Improving Learning by Widening Participation in Higher Education presents a strong and coherent rationale for improving learning for diverse students from a range of socio-economic, ethnic/racial and gender backgrounds within higher education, and for adults across the life course. Edited by Miriam David, the Associate Director of the ESRC’s highly successful Teaching and Learning Research Programme, with contributions from the seven projects on Widening Participation in Higher Education (viz Gill Crozier and Diane Reay; Chris Hockings; Alison Fuller and Sue Heath; Anna Vignoles; Geoff Hayward and Hubert Ertl; Julian Williams and Pauline Davis; Gareth Parry and Ann-Marie Bathmaker), this book provides clear and comprehensive research evidence on the policies, processes, pedagogies and practices of widening or increasing participation in higher education. This evidence is situated within the contexts of changing individual and institutional circumstances across the life course, and wider international transformations of higher education in relation to the global knowledge economy. Improving Learning by Widening Participation in Higher Education also considers: the changing UK policy contexts of post-compulsory education; how socio-economically disadvantaged students – raced and gendered – fare through schools and into post-compulsory education; the kinds of academic and vocational courses, including Maths, undertaken; the changing forms of institutional and pedagogic practices within higher education; how adults view the role of higher education in their lives. This book, based upon both qualitative studies and quantitative datasets, offers a rare insight into the overall implications for current and future policy and will provide a springboard for further research and debate. It will appeal both to policy-makers and practitioners, as well as students within higher education.

Issues of access, social exclusion and widening participation dominate educational policy agendas and are a shared global challenge. Participation in higher education and adult lifelong learning activities can be a life-changing experience that opens up new opportunities. However, access remains unequal. People from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those living in the most deprived areas and people from minority ethnic groups are underrepresented. In this book, we focus on how we can move the field of widening participation forward, paying specific attention to the theories and methods we can use to better understand and tackle the problem of underrepresented groups in post-compulsory education, and how individuals and institutions can be supported. We argue that in order to make sense of these issues, it is important to engage in both the findings of widening participation research and the theoretical foundations which underpin them. This way, alternative perspectives on the widening participation agenda and emerging research and policy can be explored from alternative perspectives. This book was originally published as a special issue of Studies in Continuing Education.

The Council for Industry and Higher Education commissioned a working group called the Widening Participation Group to consider how to make postcompulsory education more accessible to those individuals in the United Kingdom who currently have limited or no exposure to such learning. The group issued a progress report recommending specific actions that might be taken by the following groups: government and its agencies, employers and employer organizations, and higher and further education institutions. Among the actions recommended were the following: give high priority to measures widening participation of those in lower social groups; consider moving to a credit-based funding approach and introducing income-contingent loans; increase pupils' and parents' awareness of the benefits of further and higher education; encourage local learning initiatives; support the introduction of individual learning account; provide student support facilities (child care, transportation, information technology support); and make a range of interim awards and qualifications more widely available. (Appended are the mission of the Widening Participation Group, and a list of group members. Contains 11 references.) (MN)

Extending higher education to people from diverse backgrounds and widening participation is a current international priority. This study, based on empirical data, is the first of its kind examining why people choose not to enter higher education

This second edition of a popular text provides an accessible and practical discussion of teaching and learning for the post-compulsory sector of higher and further education. Central to the book is the author's well-known `ripples on a pond' model of learning, which identifies fundamental factors underpinning successful learning: - wanting to learn - taking ownership of the need to learn - learning by doing - learning through feedback - making sense of what is being learned - deepening learning through explaining, coaching, teaching - further deepening learning through assessing - making informed judgements The book encourages teachers and students to address these factors head-on in a wide range of contexts, including large-group teaching, the design of assessment, small-group work, reflection, and in making good use of formative feedback. As well as a thorough update based on feedback to the previous version, this edition includes three new chapters: - 'designing the curriculum for learning'; - 'what can I do when...?'providing creative tactics to help address some of the common problems colleagues experience in teaching in post-compulsory education; - 'reflective observation', including peer and self observation. The book is a helpful tool for lecturers and tutors in universities and colleges, post-16 teachers in secondary education, and educational managers.It also provides a valuable resource for postgraduate students on higher and further education courses and staff development courses across UK universities. Phil Race is Emeritus Professor: Assessment, Learning and Teaching, at Leeds Metropolitan University, and continues to travel widely giving keynotes and running training workshops for staff and students in universities, colleges and other organizations throughout the UK and abroad. Access the author's website at http://phil-race.co.uk

With an emphasis on developing higher-order learning skills, such as reflection, critical evaluation and action research, this book provides a comprehensive guide to contemporary and contextual issues within post-compulsory education. This book: * Helps students fulfill Qualified Teacher in Further Education (QTFE) criteria * Provides information and advice on provision for the 14-19 sector * Is structured specifically around the FENTO values * Includes mind-maps charting links to FENTO standards * Provides help with assignments through reflective questions and discussion points

This edited volume will be an important and key resource for managers, researchers, and policy makers in the field of Higher Education and Further Education. It offers insights into a radical new way of organizing post-compulsory education on an international basis that directly promotes a social justice agenda (i.e., widening of student participation). Around the world post-compulsory education is divided between Universities and Community-based Colleges. Universities are typically concerned with "higher" education, while community based colleges focus on "further" and technical education. In response to a range of social and economic forces there has been a growth in the number of dual sector institutions (or "duals") that span this divide. Challenging Boundaries brings together leading international thinkers, policy analysts, academic managers, and researchers who question whether duals can provide relevant education to students and appropriate graduates for the economy, while also offering greater opportunities to disadvantaged students. Challenging Boundaries provides an analysis of the potential of "dual sector" institutions in North America, UK, South Africa, and Australasia. This volume draws on the very latest research findings and effectively looks to: Challenge conventional thinking about post-compulsory education Demonstrate how a number of institutions internationally are addressing the organizational, managerial, and cultural challenges of operating as dual sector universities Combine the latest research in the field from a range of international scholars with operational insights from university leaders Provide a key resource for education policy makers and researchers and students of educational policy and management at masters and doctoral level