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Mission Impossible? Access and the Dash to Growth in British Higher Education
Author(s) -
Smith David N.,
Scott Peter,
Mackay Lesley
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
higher education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.976
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1468-2273
pISSN - 0951-5224
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2273.1993.tb01632.x
Subject(s) - ethos , political science , process (computing) , dash , higher education , public relations , sociology , public administration , computer science , law , operating system
Access is a central issue in the debate about the future shape and characteristics of the post‐binary system of higher education. It is seen as crucial to the shift towards a more open, mass system. This paper examines commitments to access in the contents of institutional missions and strategic plans. The results of our analysis suggest a widespread concern to be involved in the access process. However, we also reveal substantial differences in emphasis between the older universities, ex‐polytechnics and colleges that comprise the post‐binary system. On the basis of present institutional planning it would appear that access is frequently seen as an addition to, rather than a replacement of, the commitments of the binary era. Our evidence suggests that a fundamental shift of ethos within the system as a whole may be some way off.