Higher vocational education and social mobility: educational participation in Australia and England

Ann-Marie Bathmaker, Sue Webb, Trevor Gale, Stephen Parker, Stephen Hodge, Shaun Rawolle

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    14 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    This article explores the issue of social mobility in relation to the recent expansion of higher vocational education (HIVE) by non-university providers. The post-school vocational education sector has become the object of policies to widen access to higher education to ensure greater social mobility and provide second chance education to those who do not complete initial education in Anglophone countries. Drawing on typologies of vocational education and training systems, the article generates understanding of the expansion of HIVE within two Anglophone countries (Australia and England). The article considers the implications for widening opportunities to higher education for non-traditional students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds in these two contexts. Descriptive analysis of current national data on participation reveals surprising differences between countries. The article concludes by discussing the extent to which the higher education offerings in vocational institutions can contribute to social mobility within these two countries.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)147-167
    JournalJournal of Vocational Education and Training
    Volume69
    Issue number1
    Early online date23 Mar 2017
    DOIs
    Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 23 Mar 2017

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