Participation in higher education as social inclusion: An occupational perspective

This article discusses access to, and participation in, higher education as a form of social inclusion. Globally, what is known as the Widening Participation Agenda has focussed attention and effort towards initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of disadvantaged groups in higher education. Such participation, it is argued, enhances social inclusion through economic, social and civil means. From an occupational perspective, participation in higher education may be understood as enabling a transformation of identity and socio-economic status through the transitional occupation of student, to become a worker and professional. To highlight what can be achieved within a national policy framework and with dedicated resources, a case study of Australia’s Bridges to Higher Education is presented. The article concludes with considerations of why this is an area deserving of greater attention by occupational science scholars in the future.