The new higher education reality: what is an appropriate model to address the widening participation agenda?

Abstract

Along with the massification of higher education comes a need for new models to support the success of greater numbers of diverse students. A greater proportion of these students are 'non-traditional' in terms of preparedness, socioeconomic status and geography. This paper introduces an Associate Degree model designed to support this new higher education reality of broader student cohorts, thin regional markets and cross-sectoral collaboration. Background literature on challenges facing the higher education sector and its prospective students is presented, with a particular focus on regionality. An argument is made for the role of curriculum and pedagogy as enablers of non-traditional student success. This is supported by the results of a mixed-methods exploratory study. This Associate Degree model was attractive to students and institutes. Students experienced similar levels of challenge, workload and progress to their traditional peers. While technology was essential for the success of the model, it played a supporting role to the relationships and multiple modes of learning it facilitated. This article provides insights for institutions seeking to address the broadening participation agenda.

Working towards widening participation in nurse education

“…The widening participation agenda is an international phenomenon which aims to ensure that university education is inclusive, and targets those who are educationally disadvantaged (Dawson et al, 2013;Graham, 2013). Students with disability, those from ethnically diverse backgrounds and students from socioeconomic IV and V are less likely to attend university than their peers, and (when taking prior achievements into account) are less likely to do well than their peers (National Equality Panel/ NEP, 2010; Equality Challenge Unit /ECU, 2014) 1 .…”

Importance of research higher degree training availability in rural and remote regions

“…Flexible modes of delivery are increasingly enabling the increased participation of diverse cohorts in higher education 24 . Similarly, embedding a flexible and distributed HDR model (ie the online HDR) into standard institutional practice would be another enabling mechanism.…”

“…Flexible modes of delivery are increasingly enabling the increased participation of diverse cohorts in higher education. 24 Similarly, embedding a flexible and distributed HDR model (ie the online HDR) into standard institutional practice would be another enabling mechanism. This goes beyond digital candidature management and would need to involve explicit pedagogical redesign to make the best use of online technology and digital tools for learning and supervision.…”

Widening participation research and practice in the United Kingdom on the twentieth anniversary of the Dearing report, reflections on a changing landscape

“…Teaching and learning strategies may also need to be reconfigured. Dawson (2013) draws attention to the use of "multiple learning methods" and technology to support students that fall within WP initiatives. Many resources are posted on-line on various learning platforms; lecture slides, notes, resources, activities, reading etc.…”