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October 2004/34
Policy development
Statement of policy

This document is for information

HEFCE widening participation and fair access research strategy

This document sets out our revised research strategy for widening participation and fair access, which has been developed in consultation with the HE sector and other stakeholders. The strategy covers our medium- and long-term research priorities, as well as short-term or ongoing work, and includes information on specific projects proposed or in progress.

To: Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions
Heads of further education colleges
Heads of universities in Northern Ireland
Selected national bodies
Of interest to those responsible for: Widening participation, Strategic planning, Research
Reference: 2004/34
Publication date: October 2004
Enquiries to: Sarah Howls
tel 0117 931 7073
e-mail s.howls@hefce.ac.uk
or
Fiona Reid
tel 0117 931 7115
e-mail f.reid@hefce.ac.uk

Executive summary (read on-line)

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Executive summary

Purpose

1.    This document sets out our widening participation (WP) and fair access research strategy.

Key points

2.    The strategy was developed following consultation with the sector and other stakeholders (in HEFCE 2004/06). Responses to the consultation are given in Annex A. This document sets out our broad priorities for research in widening participation to higher education. In particular it considers:

  • our medium and long-term research priorities, as well as short-term and ongoing work
  • how we intend to improve the quality of research we use
  • how we will improve our capacity for taking account of external research and for linking with other bodies with research interests.

3.    Development of the strategy has been guided by three principles: the need to engage with and build on existing knowledge, the need to work in partnership, and the need to build capacity across the sector to both undertake and use WP research.

4.    The strategy focuses on four priority areas:

  1. Costs of widening participation (paragraphs 20-27).
  2. Evaluation of Aimhigher (paragraph 29).
  3. Barriers to participation in HE - literature review (paragraphs 62-65).
  4. WP research facility (paragraphs 69-70).

Action required

5.    This report is for information only.