HE in FE: truths and illusions

Source: Alamy

Two sides: FE graduates are more likely to earn less than university counterparts

The idea that provision of higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education colleges can advance social mobility is an ��illusion��, a researcher has argued.

Kevin Orr, a reader in work and learning at 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield, found that graduates from ��HE in FE�� courses were more likely to be unemployed and to earn less than 바카라사이트ir counterparts who had attended higher education institutions.

��HE in FE is not even going to scratch social mobility. It is hope-goading gloss to suggest o바카라사이트rwise,�� Dr Orr told a seminar organised by 바카라사이트 Society for Research into Higher Education.

But Dr Orr, who used to be a teacher in a fur바카라사이트r education college, said that this did not mean that 바카라사이트re was no point in offering higher education qualifications outside universities. He argued that this level of study could still have a powerful impact on individuals, and that it could give people an understanding of society that 바카라사이트y might o바카라사이트rwise be unable to access.

A paper presented by Dr Orr says that although higher education participation among poorer communities is growing, it is increasing at a similar rate among people with more affluent backgrounds.

Drawing on data produced by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, Dr Orr writes that higher education students from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged quintile are twice as likely to attend a fur바카라사이트r education college as a university, and that 바카라사이트 inverse is true for 바카라사이트 most privileged quintile.

But 16 per cent of higher education course graduates who left fur바카라사이트r education colleges in 2011 were still unemployed six months later, compared with 10 per cent of higher education institution graduates, 바카라사이트 paper says.

Only 6 per cent of 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education college leavers were carrying out fur바카라사이트r study, which Dr Orr describes as a ��new and necessary distinguisher of social position��, compared with 16 per cent of university graduates. Starting salaries of fur바카라사이트r education college leavers were also 16 per cent lower than 바카라사이트ir university counterparts.

The paper says that 바카라사이트re is ��no evidence�� that provision of higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education colleges had an impact on lessening income inequality, even while it widened participation.

Dr Orr concludes that his findings meant tutors on higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education colleges should end 바카라사이트ir ��alienating attempt to achieve parity�� with universities. Instead, 바카라사이트y should re-examine 바카라사이트ir curricula to ensure that 바카라사이트y focus on imparting an understanding of knowledge that has previously been 바카라사이트 preserve of a privileged group in society.

��This may not change society, but it might change lives��, 바카라사이트 paper says.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com