Teaching and Learning Research Programme - Widening Participation

Widening Participation

“We are committed to widening the range and increasing the number of people who take part in HE as long-term and continuing goals. This is vital for both social justice and economic competitiveness. We also believe in the benefits of learning in an environment with a diversity of students and staff. We want to ensure that everyone with the potential to benefit from HE has the opportunity to do so, whatever their background and whenever they need it, and to ensure that appropriately qualified individuals are encouraged to access programmes and institutions with the most demanding entry requirements. We will work with others to raise aspirations and educational attainment among people from under-represented communities in order to prepare them for HE, ensure success on their chosen programme of study, improve their employment prospects and open up possibilities for postgraduate study, and give them opportunities to return to learning throughout their lives.”

From the HEFCE Strategic Plan 2006-11