Higher education access, participation and progression: Inequalities of opportunity

Erna Nairz-Wirth, Sarah O'Shea, Franziska Lessky

    Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Globally, access to higher education has reached unprecedented levels with almost a third of school-leavers worldwide attending university; attendance patterns are predicted to increase (Calderon, 2018), despite the current health crisis (Hillman, 2020; Norton, 2020). Universally, countries are now experiencing severely contracted economies and growing unemployment rates, which means that many individuals are looking to higher education as the “route out” even when universities themselves are experiencing crippling disruptions, job losses and lost revenue. Both internationally and in European education policy, widening participation in higher education is regarded as a key driver of social mobility, economic growth and democratic stability (The Bologna Process & European Higher Education Area, 2015). However, as the 21st century progresses, questions are beginning to be asked about the value to democracies, economies and individuals in continuing to focus on increasing participation in university higher education.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)3-8
    Number of pages6
    JournalEuropean Journal of Education: research, development and policies
    Volume56
    Issue number1
    Early online date27 Jan 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2021

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