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

2. 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

3. 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

4. PARTICIPATION in FORMAL EDUCATION
SOURCE: PIAAC

5. INTENTIONS TO PARTICIPATE of NON-PARTICIPANTS
SOURCE: PIAAC

6. 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:

7. UNDERSTANDING PARTICIPATION
Sociology
Psychology
Economics
Organisational sciences
Political sciences

8. COMPREHENSIVE LLL PARTICIPATION MODEL

9. THREE LEVELS
Individual level:
Institutional level:
Country level:

10. 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

11. 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)

12. 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