The official discourse of fair access to higher education [article]

Article

Bravenboer, D. 2012. The official discourse of fair access to higher education [article]. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning. 14 (3), pp. 120-140. https://doi.org/10.5456/WPLL.14.3.120
TypeArticle
TitleThe official discourse of fair access to higher education [article]
AuthorsBravenboer, D.
Abstract

Despite significant public investment in the sector, selective universities in the UK have made little if any progress in widening participation over the last ten years. There are also increasing incentives for universities to become more
selective in the context of government-driven higher education market competition. At the same time, while some universities may view the pursuit of academic excellence as incompatible with widening participation, key policy documents have consistently included descriptions of a variety of strategies designed to promote wider and fairer access. This paper is concerned with how the idea of fair access has been constructed within official higher education discourse. A method of ‘constructive description’ is employed to analyse the discursive strategies at play within selected governmental texts. The analysis indicates that the primacy of institutional autonomy in the official discourse of fair access operates to exclude descriptions of a ‘common currency’ of merit and potential, which may leave potentially unfair admissions practices unchallenged. The paper proposes a change in ‘mind set’ from universities operating as exclusive ‘gate keepers’ admitting students, to that of the inclusive recognition of applicants’ merit and potential. This may have significant implications for admissions policy, particularly in the light of the shift away from traditional models of funding towards empowering individual or employer ‘buyers’ in the higher education market.:

Keywordsfair access; widening participation; higher education; official discourse.
Research GroupWork and Learning Research Centre
PublisherThe Open University
JournalWidening Participation and Lifelong Learning
ISSN1466-6529
Publication dates
Print2012
Publication process dates
Deposited16 Oct 2013
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
Copyright Statement

Permission to archive full text granted by publisher

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.5456/WPLL.14.3.120
LanguageEnglish
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