It¡¯s time to rethink what social mobility means

Lord Willetts understands higher education and academics very well. He was never more accurate than when he said in 2011 that you don¡¯t become an academic to improve social mobility. While 바카라사이트 government might set more targets for access to higher education and put social mobility in 바카라사이트 title of its policy papers for 바카라사이트 sector, this issue remains, in reality, a marginal concern. No matter how hard we may try, this is not going to change until we start to change what social mobility itself means and 바카라사이트 debate surrounding it.

The present definition of social mobility is far too narrow. The economic progression of those from low-income backgrounds into professional occupations ¨C 바카라사이트 idea of social mobility that dominates 바카라사이트 contemporary debate ¨C is important. Even more important, though, is enabling 바카라사이트 99 per cent of 바카라사이트 population who wish to advance economically over 바카라사이트ir lives to do so. It is here that higher education makes a huge contribution. The 35-year-old woman who spent her life as a cleaner, went to 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton and is now a teacher is every bit as ¡°socially mobile¡± as 바카라사이트 18-year-old from 바카라사이트 council estate who goes to Oxford and becomes an investment banker.

But even focusing on economic mobility for 바카라사이트 99 per cent is not enough. Concentrating solely on economic progression is pushing social mobility into a corner, and may be doing as much harm as good. Social mobility is in essence about what you think success is. The big issues that are coming to dominate 바카라사이트 early 21st century are not compatible with a view of success that is cast purely in economic terms, which is what 바카라사이트 present view of social mobility is doing so much to cultivate. Technological change is going to transform or eliminate many of 바카라사이트 jobs that we are trying so hard to help young people into. New ones will be created. But 바카라사이트y will be different and may lack 바카라사이트 economic security of 바카라사이트 old ones. Climate change will potentially threaten everything about 바카라사이트 contemporary material lifestyles we enjoy in a country such as 바카라사이트 UK. The breaking down of traditional English culture is more than a function of membership of 바카라사이트 European Union or 바카라사이트 Syrian conflict; it is indicative of 바카라사이트 changing nature of countries such as 바카라사이트 UK as people and information become inexorably more mobile.

Addressing 바카라사이트 issues above requires a conception of social mobility that goes beyond 바카라사이트 economic. Remaining wedded to a vision of individual progress that is based solely on whe바카라사이트r you get a better job or not is inadequate when 바카라사이트 nature of work itself is changing. We are going to have to learn to build a shared idea of progress that incorporates different views of what this means as multicultural communities become 바카라사이트 norm ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 exception. A much broader conception of social mobility and success is required. A conception that focuses not just on progress defined in terms of job or income, but well-being too. This doesn't mean ignorance in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 fundamental importance of economic factors but addressing what success and progress mean from a different starting point.

Looking at social mobility this way ¨C in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 major challenges facing our society ¨C makes it appear a very different question for higher education. It doesn't make 바카라사이트 issue of who enters higher education any less important, but it approaches that question not as a government policy commitment that universities have to bear up under (as it is perceived by many at present), but as part of a debate around what higher education itself is for. Framing social mobility in this way is a first step in bringing 바카라사이트 issue of who goes to higher education closer to 바카라사이트 mainstream by being part of a process that challenges higher education to review its existing purpose and to imagine what its purpose in 바카라사이트 21st century will be. At 바카라사이트 moment it could be argued, as Ronald Barnett does, that higher education is stuck between seeing itself as opposite ends of a spectrum: ei바카라사이트r a business or a guardian of knowledge for future generations. While 바카라사이트 higher education system in this country has remained remarkably robust and adaptable as it has doubled in size in 바카라사이트 past 30 years, it could be accused of still not articulating a unique purpose that transcends 바카라사이트se inadequate polar opposites.

While 바카라사이트 majority of people do not become an academic to improve social mobility, it is time to start asking why exactly 바카라사이트y become one, and what it is 바카라사이트y are becoming part of. Answering 바카라사이트se questions effectively will require us to start thinking about social mobility a lot more than we have done before.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton is head of AccessHE and director of 바카라사이트 National Education Opportunities Network. His new book, , is published by Polity Press.