ABSTRACT
Strategic Management of Widening Participation: Institutional Distinction
and Widening Participation
Professor Susan Webb, Monash University
Recent statements from UK Government suggests that although the structure and funding
of higher education (HE) may change some form of widening participation (WP) is likely to
remain a feature of English HE. At the same time, HE systems in other countries such as
Australia are building on the UK experience by expanding participation through focusing on
increasing recruitment of those from disadvantaged backgrounds and progression from
vocational to higher education (Bradley Review, 2008). Therefore it is timely to assess the
strategic management and experience of WP of recent policy initiatives in the UK. The focus
of this paper is on the use of vocational qualification routes and regional initiatives such as
the Lifelong Learning Networks as mechanisms for accessing HE, specifically research
intensive, selecting universities.
This paper draws on empirical research in one research intensive higher education
institution (HEI) to ask the research question, how does a research intensive HEI strategically
manage the policy and practices of national and regional focused WP activities on the one
hand, and international and national institutional distinction in a stratified mass HE system,
on the other hand. The paper examines the extent to which in the context of both national
and global competitive pressures the institution’ s core mission modifies and shapes the
nature of the WP activities and impacts on the institutional learning cultures and student’ s
experiences of teaching and learning.
Sue Webb is Professor of Education at Monash University. Previously, Sue was Professor of
Continuing Education and Director of the Institute for Lifelong Learning at the University of
Sheffield, UK, where she provided strategic leadership for the University's widening
participation strategy. Sue is known internationally for her research and leadership in the
field of adult education and lifelong learning where she has published, lectured and
provided external advice to a number of universities in the UK and in New Zealand.
Access Monash Seminar: “Navigating the Turbulent Seas of Equity and Excellence”, 25 March 2011
Monash University, Clayton Campus