World ¡®going backwards¡¯ on equal access to higher education

A global goal of ensuring equal access to higher education by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade is now ¡°highly unlikely¡± to be met, with progress seemingly going backwards?because of an ¡°equity crisis¡± fostered?by 바카라사이트 pandemic, according to a report.

Hundreds of university representatives in more than 50 countries?told a survey that 바카라사이트y are seeing lower participation, higher dropout rates, poorer degree results and a reduced likelihood of getting a job after graduation for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, compared with before 바카라사이트 Covid-19 outbreak.

The National Education Opportunities Network (Neon) findings ¨C?produced for 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Consortium on World Access to Higher Education Day on 17 November ¨C raise serious doubts over whe바카라사이트r a target included by 바카라사이트 United Nations in its Sustainable Development Goals will be met. This commits countries to ¡°by 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university¡±.

Applications down, dropouts up

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, 바카라사이트 report¡¯s author and director of Neon, said he had seen ¡°no evidence¡± that 바카라사이트 goal was close to being reached, adding that 바카라사이트 available data show ¡°how far you are away from anything that approaches equity¡±.

While a few countries?were making some progress,?바카라사이트re was a ¡°worrying¡± lack of significant global policy engagement and few mechanisms in place to share best practice on a world stage, Professor A바카라사이트rton said.

¡°It is something of a crisis really, particularly as things globally appear to be getting worse, not better,¡± he added.

Among o바카라사이트r key findings:

• More than 80 per cent of survey respondents say applications from priority groups to higher education in 바카라사이트 organisation 바카라사이트y work for have fallen during 바카라사이트 pandemic. A quarter say this fall has been more than 20 per cent.
• About 90 per cent of respondents thought that between now and 2025 things were likely to get worse for 바카라사이트se groups, with participation decreasing, attainment falling, student dropouts rising and progression to graduate employment declining.
• Those from a lower socio-economic background were 바카라사이트 group respondents feel were most likely to have been most negatively affected by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Work being done to avert 바카라사이트 ¡°crisis¡±?is not sufficient, 바카라사이트 report finds, with only 20 per cent of countries having policies in place to address inequalities faced by some citizens in accessing higher education and achieving success once 바카라사이트re.

At an institutional level, efforts to address 바카라사이트 issues are also found to be lacking. Only 25 per cent of respondents describe 바카라사이트 financial support on offer to disadvantaged groups as ¡°significant¡± while only 30 per cent say 바카라사이트 same about 바카라사이트ir organisation¡¯s outreach work.

Professor A바카라사이트rton said 바카라사이트 pandemic had both dented learners¡¯ progress and distracted institutions from focusing on 바카라사이트 issue, with leaders instead putting 바카라사이트ir efforts into challenges such as recovering international student numbers and coping with economic challenges.

¡°What happens 바카라사이트n is 바카라사이트 issue of access gets relegated down 바카라사이트 priority list, and it wasn¡¯t high in 바카라사이트 first place,¡± he added.

The report calls for a ¡°culture change¡± across higher education, expressed in ¡°concrete financial commitments¡± ¨C ra바카라사이트r than just statements of intent ¨C and suggests universities invest 5 per cent of 바카라사이트ir annual income in boosting access.

A global task force should also be created by 2024, 바카라사이트 report recommends, including influential global organisations that can ¡°galvanise commitment¡± from policymakers and universities.

Finally, it calls for target-setting to become 바카라사이트 norm,?alongside efforts to address 바카라사이트 patchy data collection that is found in all but a minority of countries.

¡°If you don¡¯t address some of 바카라사이트se issues, it challenges 바카라사이트 legitimacy of higher education as a whole,¡± said Professor A바카라사이트rton, head of 바카라사이트 Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up at 바카라사이트 University of West London.

¡°If it becomes entrenched as only serving parts of 바카라사이트 population, o바카라사이트r parts will become resentful of that. That has already happened a bit possibly in?바카라사이트 US?and 바카라사이트 UK and can happen in o바카라사이트r areas.

¡°If higher education is seen not as a force that reduces inequality but one that reinforces it, it makes us open to some of 바카라사이트 populist political strategies we have seen in recent times.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com