Panel session chaired by Mark Crawley, Director of Widening Participation and Progression, University of the Arts London, and Director of NALN

The panellists were:
Carolyn Bew, Academic Develpor, Art Design Media Subject Centre, The Higher Education Academy
Sarah Howls, Acting Head of Widening Participation, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
Aaron Porter, Vice-President (Higher Education), National Union of Students

Changes are taking place in the widening participation landscape and this workshop discussed different perspectives on the future. With a panel of representatives from HEFCE, the NUS, and the HE Academy, it introduced the debate on the way forward.

It considered issues that centrally concern all those who are committed to a fairer and more representative HE sector:

• What will be the impact of the looming general election. Irrespective of political spinning about public expenditure, will a new government mean less funding for universities and the WP work they do?

• What impact will the global economic crisis have and is the current uncertainty about expansion in student numbers a foretaste of what is to come? If university growth is restricted will WP work survive?

• A review of the issue of removing the cap on tuition fees will take place in 2009. If the cap is removed will it deepen the divisions between different kinds of HE institutions and further restrict the options for working class students?

• Despite the best efforts of practitioners, will the rising cost of university deter the very students being targeted for HE entry?

 

  Lets Have a Heated Debate Workshop Transcripts