Addressing barriers to higher study Dr Ellen Boeren University of Edinburgh 5 April 2018

BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION Let’s start with a brainstorm activity! There are various reasons why potential students do in the end not decide to participate in higher education in small groups, make a list of barriers you recognise based on a brief discussion

BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION The literature traditionally recognises 3 types of barriers: e.g. Patricia Cross Situational barriers Dispositional barriers Institutional barriers Fourth type: informational barriers Most common barriers: lack of time, lack of money

PARTICIPATION in FORMAL EDUCATION SOURCE: PIAAC

INTENTIONS TO PARTICIPATE of NON-PARTICIPANTS SOURCE: PIAAC

THE CRISIS IN PART-TIME HE 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Open University 71,800 77,200 73,700 64,700 42,000 31,000 25,800 27,200 Other UK Universities 164,300 150,800 131,200 125,600 80,500 78,600 73,800 67,300 FE Colleges 12,500 11,200 11,000 10,700 8,900 9,700 11,100 Total 248,500 239,100 215,900 200,900 131,400 119,300 110,700 105,500 SOURCE: https://www.suttontrust.com/research-paper/lost-part-timers-mature-students/

UNDERSTANDING PARTICIPATION Sociology Psychology Economics Organisational sciences Political sciences

COMPREHENSIVE LLL PARTICIPATION MODEL

THREE LEVELS Individual level: Institutional level: Country level:

THREE LEVELS Role of cost-benefit analysis Individual level: Poor attitude, lack of funding, difficulties managing time, disinterest, not convinced of the benefits of learning, negative learning experience Institutional level: Programmes not tailored towards needs of students, fees are too high, courses at inconvenient time and location, top management not interested in widening participation – PT and mature students, difficult to maintain programme financially Country level: Problematic fee setting, focus of HE on traditional under 19 group, lack of support for PT HE, lack of strategic vision, growing problem of overqualified graduates Role of cost-benefit analysis Role of outreach: health, employment, … sectors

DIFFERENT STAGES Getting ready – reaching out to potential applicants Getting in – university admissions Staying in – student retention Getting on – student outcomes University Challenge: How Higher Education Can Advance Social Mobility Alan Milburn (2012)

NATIONAL ADULT LEARNING STRATEGY 5 key recommendations of the APPG for adult education report Establish a national strategy for adult education: coordinated approach  education, health, justice, employment, other services, … Rebuild and rebalance resources fairly for adults Provide careers information advice and guidance in local communities Ensure that we have a systematic approach to gathering evidence on the full impact on adult education Encourage employers to provide educational opportunities for employees