Wider access and progression among full-time students

Houston, M. , Knox, H. and Rimmer, R. (2007) Wider access and progression among full-time students. Higher Education, 53(1), pp. 107-146. (doi: 10.1007/s10734-005-3177-6)

Abstract

By 2010 the UK government intends to widen access and provide experience of higher education to half of those aged up to 30. Unlike many institutions, University of Paisley (UP) has exceeded its individual target on access. It has done this by providing entry routes for students with ‘non-traditional’ qualifications. It is feared that low entry qualifications will adversely influence performance and progression statistics as wider access is pursued. Drawing on a student-attrition theory, performance and progression are investigated using data for students enrolling at UP for the first time in 2000. At UP non-traditional entry coincided with the enrolment of many students over 21. The relationships between age and performance and between age and progression are nonlinear and involve interactions with gender. Also, there are interactions between entry qualification and field of study. These relationships and interactions could complicate the important task of translating wider access into academic success.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Houston, Dr Muir and Rimmer, Professor Russell
• Authors: Houston, M., Knox, H., and Rimmer, R.
• Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Higher Education
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0018-1560
• ISSN (Online): 1573-174X