Abstract

This book, which is addressed to managers in further education and higher education across Great Britain, explains what managers must do to enable the changes required to widen participation in their sectors.
The following are among the topics discussed: (1) the why and how of widening participation (the importance of widening participation in a changing society); (2) perspectives on widening participation in further and higher education (widening participation, targeting, and massification; widening participation as inclusion; transformative participation); (3) development, management, and innovative practice (strategic thinking; standards; regionalization; evidence-based practice, redefining management as collaboration and partnership; managing for the future; the role of marginality in change management; the role of learning in the change management process); (4) collaboration, partnerships, and power (different partnerships for different purposes; resources, status, and difference; partnerships and boundaries); (5) institutional case studies from further education (local community provision; establishing a culture for widening participation; developing inclusivity); (6) widening participation in higher education by making the unseen university visible (leading from the center; marginality and central planning; continuing education as widening participation; centrally located services); (7) individuals, life experience, and leadership (family and social background; commitment to social change; sense of place; networks); and (8) futures for widening participation in education.