Equity Policies in Global Higher Education: Reducing Inequality and Increasing Participation and Attainment (Issues in Higher Education)

✍ Scribed by Orlanda Tavares (editor), Carla Sá (editor), Cristina Sin (editor), Alberto Amaral (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 261
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book discusses and analyses global policies and practices aimed at promoting equity in higher education participation and attainment. Although the massification of higher education systems has facilitated the participation of students from deprived backgrounds, socioeconomic inequalities persist in access to the most prestigious institutions and programmes. Privileged students benefit from a number of advantages in the competition for selective and scarce places: access to information, lower aversion to debt, higher expectations, better previous schooling and higher academic achievement. The chapters present a critical analysis of equity policies in different countries – with or without affirmative action policies, within a context of neoliberal policies or within a social democratic model – and the reasons why they have failed to promote equity and fairness, preventing students from achieving their full educational potential.

This is an open access book.

✦ Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction
References
Chapter 2: Equity in Higher Education: Evidences, Policies and Practices. Setting the Scene
Definition of Equity
Equity and Supranational Organisations
Components of Equity
Relative and Absolute Changes in Participation
Massification and Diversification of the Systems
Positional Goods
Maximally Maintained Inequality (MMI) and Effectively Maintained Inequality (EMI)
Discussion
Tracking Systems
The Selective Nature of Mathematics
The Admission System
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: Access and Inequality in US Higher Education: Policy Issues
Introduction
US Financial Aid Policy
Informational and Behavioural Constraints for Lower Income Applicants
Affirmative Action Policies
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: The Persistence of Inequity in Brazilian Higher Education: Background Data and Student Performance
Introduction
Advances in Diversity of Enrolee Profiles: Only the Beginning
Changes in Social Profiles of Graduates: Elitist Leftovers
Performance of Graduates from Different Modes of Education: Quality Inequity
Conclusion
References
Laws
Chapter 5: Towards Equity: Developing a National Approach to Improving Social Justice through Higher Education in England
Introduction
The Compromise: Economic Returns and Social Justice
The Drive for Social Justice in Europe
Expansion, Diversity and the Struggle for Equity in England
Research about Improving the Success of Traditionally Under-Represented Groups in Higher Education
Students
The Role of Higher Education Institutions
The Role of the State
National Approaches to Improving Success in Higher Education in England
Access Agreements/Access and Participation Plans
Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework
Conclusions
References
Chapter 6: Undergraduate Student Funding in England: The Challenges Ahead for Equity
Introduction
Student Funding Policies
Changing Student Funding in England: Tuition Fees and Student Loans
Policy Rhetoric
Policy Predictions and Assumptions
Expanding and Widening Participation
Student Loan Eligibility and Take-up
Loans Are Fair, and Loan Repayments Are Affordable and Risk Free
Rising Student Loan Debt Deemed Immaterial
Debt Aversion Is Irrational and Student Loans Enhance Student Choice
Loans Have no Adverse Effects on Students’ Post-Graduation Life Choices and Behaviour and Leave Untouched the Economic and Social Benefits of Higher Education
Conclusions
References
Chapter 7: Data and Reflections on Access-Transition to Higher Education in Portugal
Introduction
From Secondary to Higher Education: Determinants of Inequalities
Inequalities in Access to Portuguese Higher Education
Inequality in Secondary Education Participation
Inequality in Transition from Secondary to Higher Education
Type of Secondary Education
Students’ Characteristics
Regional Differences
Internal Grades
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Who Is Left Out? Inequalities in Higher Education Admissions and Placements in Portugal
Introduction
Persistence of Educational Inequalities in Portugal
Data and Methods
Findings and Discussion
Who Is Left Out?
Inequalities Within the Public Higher Education System
First Preferences and Type of Institutions
Selectivity of Study Programmes
Conclusions
Appendix
References
Chapter 9: An Equality Paradox? The Northern European Case
Introduction
Why Study Inequality in Education?
The Nordic Context
Educational Policies in the Nordic Countries
Analytic Approach
Higher Education in the Nordic Countries from a Comparative Perspective
Inequality in the Nordic Countries
Discussion
Policies for Equalisation
References
Chapter 10: Conclusion: Learning from the Past to Shape Future Policies Towards Equity in Higher Education
Introduction
Policies to Promote Equity and to Reduce Inequalities in Access and Success
Persistent (Social) Inequalities
Moving Forward
References
Correction to: Equity Policies in Global Higher Education
Correction to:
Index