Dipti Bhagat & Peter O'Neil were commissioned by CHEAD, NALN, ACE and HEA-ADM to edit a volume that brings together the best and most recent research which addresses or has repercussions for widening participation in Art and Design. Their aim has been to draw out the implications of this research for a wider audience in our sector and beyond.

In their presentation for the NALN conference they considered why this book is needed now and also offered some considerations on the nature of Widening Participation research and its value in the context of Art and Design. Highlighted were some of the overall themes of the volume where they examined, in part, institutional practices and policies to enhance widening participation.

The focus for this workshop presentation was on research on pedagogies for social diversity and on the voice of the HE practitioner/researcher, as ultimately, we argue, each one of us has a crucial role to play in levelling the playing field that is HE. The session provided an opportunity to generate response and debate.

The following key points arose from the workshop:

• Improve the experience (of HE) for all –not just for ‘WP’ learners 
• Offer a cultural studies approach that values experience of all HE entrants
• Try to avoid labeling of ‘the WP student’
• Don’t consider only the major and large scale (and often Research Council funded) work. The smaller scale more modest qualitative work also offers us important insights
• The ‘student-led’ critique idea is good and demystifies the experience and also returns power and ownership to students
• Pre-entry to HE projects should stress value of everyone’s world view and experience and be inclusive –in this way writing is used and valued from all experiences

 

 

NALN's report on the first four years of the network was launched at the 2010 conference. It looks at the successes and lessons of working collaboratively to address issues in Widening Participation.

Download the report here.