1. The place of widening participation Anthony Hudson, iona Burnell & david murray University of East London
26th FACE Annual Conference
3-5 July, 2019, Sheffield Hallam University

2. outline Access to HE Diploma course
New Beginnings – UEL’s Access Course
Research Study
Emerging Themes
Questions and discussion

3. Access to he diploma course
1978 – Pilot preparatory courses to access HE
1988 – Recognition as a route into HE
1989 – National framework and ‘kite mark’
1997 – Regulation and licensing by QAA
2017/18 – Progression of Access to HE learners

4. New beginnings – access to uel Mature Students by age: Percentage change
60% of students at UEL are mature
The average age of the current cohort of New Beginnings students is 30
students aged 70 have successfully completed the New Beginnings course and earned access to UEL
MillionPlus, (2018): 20

5. New beginnings – access to uel
10 week short course
For mature applicants without formal qualifications
Entry to a wide range of courses
Focus on skills and personal development

6. New Beginnings: Students
‘mature students are more likely than the general student population to be from groups disadvantaged in higher education.’ (OfS, 2018)
Parent/Carer
BAME
Care experienced
(dis)Ability/learning differences
Ex-Military
People with convictions
Individual differences

7. New beginnings – progression
Progress to UG study
Progress to Level 3
Refer to external course
Repeat New Beginnings

8. New Beginnings: impact
72% of UEL students who came through New Beginnings complete their undergraduate degree with a 1st or 2:1
The BAME attainment gap is reduced by 10 points

9. Research study Rationale for research study Research aims
Methodological approach
Sampling strategy
Data collection methods
Data analysis

10. Emerging themes ‘it gives you confidence in yourself’
Many students have internalised their failure and they blame themselves for not achieving what they feel they should have at school.
Pearce asserts that ‘confidence plays a crucial part in the experience of these students, and that as their confidence grows, their time management and engagement with the wider undergraduate culture improves’ (2017, p. 72).

11. Emerging themes I’m realising my dreams’
Some students on non-traditional routes into HE are achieving what they had dreamt of but did not previously get the opportunity to do.
Smith, McAskill and Jack note that ‘Mature students can bring with them valuable life skills and experiences which can help shape both their learning style and their ability to communicate with people’ (2009, p. 111).

12. Emerging themes I’m a role model for my children…’
Setting the example is important for some HE students; showing their children – if I can do it so can you.
Bourdieu’s theories of social reproduction and cultural capital.
‘Parents must possess cultural capital; they must invest time and effort in transmitting cultural capital to their children; and children must absorb this cultural capital and transform it into educational success’ (Jaeger 2009: 1944).

13. references
Broadhead, S., Davies, R. and Hudson, A. (2019), Perspectives on Access to HE: Practice and Research, Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited.
Diamond, J. (1999). "Access: Year 2000 and beyond: What next?" Journal of Access and Credit Studies 1(2):
Jaeger, M.M. (2009) Equal Access but Unequal Outcomes: Cultural Capital and Educational Choice in a Meritocratic Society Social Forces 87, 4: pp
MillionPlus, The Association for Modern Universities. (2018) Forgotten Learners: building a system that works for mature students. London: Available at: _for_mature_students.pdf (Accessed: 12 March 2019).
Office for Students (2018) Mature and Part-Time students. Available at:  841feda54135/topic-briefing_mature-students.pdf (Accessed: 8 May 2019).
Pearce, N. (2017). Exploring the learning experiences of older mature undergraduate students. Widening Participation and Lifelong Learning, 19(1),
Smith, A., McAskill, H. and Jack, K. (2009). Developing Advanced Skills in Practice Teaching. Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

14. Questions & discussion

15. New Beginnings – THE Awards 2018
“It addresses many of the barriers to access experienced by mature students and has been sustained over many years. Although programmes of this nature exist in many institutions, what sets New Beginnings apart is the evidence of impact on enrolment in university courses and subsequent success”
2018 THE Awards panel

16. Learning on a bespoke access programme
Samantha Broadhead
Leeds Arts University
Rosemarie Davies The Skills Company
Anthony Hudson University of East London