Policy forum on widening access to higher and further education
Held at Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire, UK, 2-3 October 2000
Papers
Widening Access to UK Higher Education
Tony Clark
This paper was written to inform a US-UK policy dialogue on access to higher education held at Ditchley Park (UK) in October 2000, and looks at the situation in the UK. It examines the background data on participation by:
- social class
- disabled students
- ethnic group
- age, gender, region and sector.
It summarises UK government policy since 1997, setting out its underlying principles and aspirations. It examines how the Higher Education Funding Council for England has responded, and describes various specific initiatives which were introduced up to 2000.
The annex summarises key findings drawn from the available data on access.
[ As Word document 79.5K | As zipped Word document 21.3K | As PDF document 34.2K | As zipped PDF document 27.9K ]
Participation and Persistence in Postsecondary Education in the United States: A Review of Federal and State Policies
Art Hauptman
This paper was undertaken to inform a US-UK policy dialogue on access to higher education held at Ditchley Park (UK) in October 2000. The paper:
- describes the evolution of US public policies at federal and state level
- presents data on changes in measures of participation and persistence
- identifies why public policies have been unsuccessful in closing participation gaps between groups
- suggests ways in which effective federal and state policies could be developed.
It examines the effect which US public policy has on the behaviour of students and higher education institutions and looks at trends in persistence and participation over the past three decades. It also suggests reasons for the failure of some policies to influence behaviour in the intended manner.
There are suggestions for reform at state and federal level, which focus on funding, financing and economic measures. Also presented are two tables on participation and financial trends in the US since 1940.
[ As Word document 78.5K | As zipped Word document 20.5K | As PDF document 71.4K | As zipped PDF document 61.3K ]
Accompanying tables:
[ as Excel spreadsheet 21.5K | as zipped Excel spreadsheet 6K | As PDF document 8.3K | As zipped PDF document 4.5K ]
Case Studies on Higher Education Access and Success in the UK and the USA: California and London
Tony Clark and Cheryl Blanco
This paper comprises two case studies (California and London) of policy and practice concerning access to higher education. They were undertaken to inform a US-UK policy dialogue on this topic held at Ditchley Park (UK) in October 2000.
In California, the authors identify three key requirements for widening access to higher education: These are to:
- establish a culture of learning in elementary and secondary schools
- simplify and channel effectively student aid and tax benefits
- promote progression from school to university.
In London, the authors examine five institutions. Two of these are located in areas with the lowest higher education participation rates in the UK. The change from 'arguably one of the most generous student support systems in the world' to means-tested tuition fees and loans is assessed. Finally, the authors stress the importance of student progression from access courses to higher education.
[ As Word document 97.5K | As zipped Word document 32.4K | As PDF document 76K | As zipped PDF document 65K ]
Case Studies on Higher Education Access and Success in the UK and the USA: North East England and Kentucky
Jim Lewis and James Mingle
These papers present case studies on two areas of (relative) deprivation in the UK and US: North East England and Kentucky. They were undertaken to inform a US-UK policy dialogue on this topic held at Ditchley Park (UK) in October 2000, in order to add to the debate on widening participation in higher education. The papers describe how:
- both regions have been the subject of a series of initiatives to encourage wider participation in education since the mid-1990s
- early signs of change seem to be hopeful in Kentucky, but less so in North East England.
The authors highlight differences between how the various initiatives have been handled in the two countries.
North East England:
[ As Word document 50K | As zipped Word document 14.3K | As PDF document 38.7K | As zipped PDF document 32.1K ]
Kentucky, USA:
[ As Word document 58.5K | As zipped Word document 13.6K | As PDF document 38.5K | As zipped PDF document 32.6K ]
Last updated 13 July 2001
Last updated 13 July 2001