Widening Participation, Policy and the Future of Higher

Education

Mary Stuart

The Agenda

• Higher Education in England from 2012• The White Paper – students at the heart of the

system• From Widening Participation to Social Mobility

In two years....

• Complete reshaping of higher education funding

• Increased pressure on student numbers and fines for over recruiting

• Substantial visa controls on international students

• Reduction in research funding

Higher Education from 2012

• 88 % of our teaching funding coming from student loans

• Expectations of students

• Drop in demand?

• International students and threats from UKBA

• Postgraduate demand?

Students at the heart of the system?• AAB+• Core and Margin • The KIS and the WIS• HEFCE the new regulator• Where is the public benefit of HE?• Where is research?

The White Paper

Information for Students – KIS

Including:

• NSS• Graduate Salaries• Graduate destinations• Contact time• Accommodation costs• SU activities• Wider information sets - including number of staff with

teaching qualification• Class sizes and how institutions spend they funds

From Widening Participation to Social Mobility

In class terms we have moved from 15% of people from lower socio-economic groups in HE in 2005 to 19% in 2010 – real successWith student number cap is WP still a real option?Fair Access – no real movement here – issue is in schools – contextual data?No Aimhigher so will Universities STILL do WP work?

Social Mobility

• About outcomes later in life

• Considerable movement through 20th century

• Government strategy and Milburn as the Social mobility ‘tzar’

Social Mobility and Universities

• How do we help students from disadvantaged backgrounds move up the social ladder?

• Employability for GRADUATE jobs• Wider engagement in activities• Creating networks that support

graduate level work• Entrepreneurship

The Challenge for Universities

• Focus on student outcomes not just inputs

• Being aware of difference in our classrooms and engaging personally with students histories to help them grow and progress beyond HE