Institutional Admissions Policies in Higher Education: A Widening Participation Perspective

Autor/in	Greenbank, Paul
Titel	Institutional Admissions Policies in Higher Education: A Widening Participation Perspective
Quelle	In: International Journal of Educational Management, 20 (2006) 4, S.249-260 (12 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0951-354X
DOI	10.1108/09513540610665379
Schlagwörter	Higher Education; Working Class; Qualifications; Public Policy; College Admission; Admission Criteria; Educational Policy; Educational Attainment; Vocational Education; Student Recruitment; Competition; Social Differences; Interviews; Administrator Attitudes; Foreign Countries; United Kingdom (England) + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Arbeiterklasse; Qualifikation; Qualifikationsstufe; Öffentliche Ordnung; Hochschulzugang; Hochschulzulassung; Zulassung; Admission; Admission procedures; Zulassungsbedingung; Zulassungsverfahren; Politics of education; Bildungspolitik; Bildungsabschluss; Bildungsgut; Ausbildung; Berufsbildung; Wettkampf; Sozialer Unterschied; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Ausland
Abstract	Purpose: This article analyses how higher education institutions (HEIs) have responded to government policy to increase the participation rates of students from lower social classes through their admissions policies. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses documentary evidence and interviews with institutional policy makers to examine HEI admissions policies and the rationale underpinning them. Findings: This research found that admissions policies owed more to the nature of demand than attempts to widen participation. Old universities tend to ask for high A-level grades and were sceptical about the value of vocational qualifications, but demonstrated a willingness to be more flexible where there was a low demand for courses. Less prestigious institutions tend to recruit more students from working class backgrounds because of the markets they were able to recruit in rather than because of their widening participation policies. Research limitations/implications: Whilst this study is based on a small number of cases, the evidence suggests that institutional admissions policies perpetuate the problem of working class disadvantage. The ability of HEIs to review and change their admissions policies is, however, constrained by the way government policy encourages a competitive and stratified system of higher education. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, but those wanting equality of opportunity in HE need to continue to put pressure on institutional policy makers to develop more inclusive systems of admission. Originality/value: By interviewing key institutional policy makers this article has been able to provide insights into the rationale behind HEI policy on admissions and widening participation. (Contains 1 note.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Emerald. 875 Massachusetts Avenue 7th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139. Tel: 888-622-0075; Fax: 617-354-6875; e-mail: america@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emeraldinsight.com
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10