The Office for Students (OfS, 2022) highlighted a critical level of attrition affecting the continuation and progression of higher education students in England, particularly affecting learners from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. This threatens sector efforts to widen Higher Education (HE) participation to a more diverse, under-represented population. However, with open access comes a responsibility to prepare students with the skills to succeed and offer support necessary to overcome barriers. In 2012, the OU developed a part-time 30-week distance learning preparatory Access programme (30 credits at Level 0), responding to concerns that tripled HE tuition fees in England would prevent students from the poorest backgrounds accessing HE. The study explored institutional, dispositional, and situational barriers that students faced in their transition from Access to level 1 modules, focussing on “Access impact” in preparing them for this transition. The results highlight ‘supported aspirations’ link to personal passions and may help address institutional barriers and acknowledge the sustained impact of such preparatory curriculum, alongside pro-active empathetic 1-1 support, may offer some ideas to address sector concerns about attrition.

Authors:
Renu Bhandari, The Open University, United Kingdom
John Butcher, The Open University, United Kingdom
Karen Foley, The Open University, United Kingdom
Mick McCormick, The Open University, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Renu Bhandari is a staff tutor in the Centre for Access, Open and Cross-curricular Innovation (AOCCI), associate lecturer, and consultant with the Open University, UK.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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