The Business of Widening Participation: Policy, Practice and Culture

Widening access to university has become a major component of education policy in the UK and Europe, with the aim of making a university education more accessible for people from traditionally under-represented backgrounds. This key volume presents a critical analysis of the business of widening participation in a marketised context, featuring contributions from major academic and practitioner researchers. Chapter authors explore how the two aspects of the 'business of widening participation work together to shape how WP is understood and done, and the possibilities for doing otherwise.

Format: Hardback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2022
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

In recent years, increasing access to higher education has emerged as a crucial aspect of educational policy, particularly in the UK and Europe. The primary objective is to enhance the accessibility of university education for individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, while also ensuring that student bodies reflect the diverse tapestry of society as a whole. This pivotal volume presents a comprehensive and critical examination of the "business of widening participation" within a market-oriented context, featuring contributions from esteemed academic and practitioner researchers in the field. Spanning the process of policymaking, enactment, and implementation at various stages, the book also offers a diverse range of professional and cultural perspectives on how widening participation is experienced and understood by those involved in policymaking.

Chapter authors delve into the intricate interplay between the two dimensions of the "business of widening participation," exploring how they coalesce to shape the understanding and practice of widening participation. The first usage, figurative, delves into how widening participation has been incorporated into the institutional landscape as higher education providers strive to differentiate themselves in the competitive market. On the other hand, the second usage, literal, examines the ways in which widening participation policy is enacted and implemented by HE providers, including alternative providers, FE colleges, state actors, and third-sector and private organizations, who are increasingly involved in delivering WP interventions and exerting influence as policy stakeholders in this domain.

By providing a comprehensive policy history of widening participation in the UK higher education sector and examining how that policy has translated into institutional practices in diverse contexts, this timely work offers fresh insights to academics already familiar with the field. It also serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics and challenges associated with expanding access to higher education.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 159 x 238 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800430501