‘There was something about aspiration’: Widening participation policy affects in England and Australia

Article


Sellar, Sam and Storan, J. 2013. ‘There was something about aspiration’: Widening participation policy affects in England and Australia. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education. 19 (2), pp. 45-65.
AuthorsSellar, Sam and Storan, J.
Abstract

This paper discusses the emergence of aspiration as a keyword linked to higher education equity policy in England and Australia since 1997. Aspiration serves multiple purposes when constructed as a problematic site in which policy must intervene. For example, it can be understood as a vector for new technologies of governance that operate through the production of entrepreneurial dispositions; as a signifier for groups that have experienced upward social mobility; and as a personality trait that correlates with future earnings and thus can be defined as a dimension of human capital. It has also provided a rallying point for equity work in higher education. Focusing on English and Australian policy contexts, as well as the recent education work of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), we examine the different perspectives of a range of stakeholders on the strategy of ‘raising aspiration’ for higher education and how these have changed over time; the partnership work undertaken in the HE systems of both countries under the aegis of aspiration-raising policies; and recent policy developments in both contexts. In particular, we consider how aspiration-focused policies have affective effects on policy actors and seek to control affects directly by modulating feelings about capacities for action in the future. Two data sets provide the empirical basis for the paper: (a) document analysis of major equity policies in England since 1997 and in Australia since 2008, as well as a review of relevant OECD policy documents; and (b) analysis of nine interviews with equity practitioners and policy personnel in England, Australia, and located within the OECD.

Keywordsaspiration; widening participation; higher education policy
JournalJournal of Adult and Continuing Education
Journal citation19 (2), pp. 45-65
ISSN1479-7194
1477-9714
Year2013
PublisherManchester University Press
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY-ND
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.7227/JACE.19.2.4
Publication dates
Print06 Nov 2013
Publication process dates
Deposited14 Nov 2013
Additional information

Presentation given at FACE 2013 annual conference, Plymouth University, 3-5 July 2013.

File
License
CC BY-ND
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/85vz0

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 144
    total views
  • 471
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 25
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Comment un outil cartographique de suivi et de communication permet-il d’élargir l’accès à plus d’étudiants et à des étudiants plus divers?
Storan, J. 2018. Comment un outil cartographique de suivi et de communication permet-il d’élargir l’accès à plus d’étudiants et à des étudiants plus divers? Conférence de Comparaisons Internationales: Éducation à l’orientation. Paris, France 08 - 09 Nov 2018 Conseil national d’évaluation du système scolaire (CNESCO).
The higher education journey of young London residents in a changing landscape: June 2014
Tindell, G., Weeden, Sheila and Storan, J. 2014. The higher education journey of young London residents in a changing landscape: June 2014. London University of East London.
The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: July 2015
Tindell, G., Weeden, Sheila and Storan, J. 2015. The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: July 2015. London Continuum: University of East London.
The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: July 2016
Tindell, G., Weeden, Sheila and Storan, J. 2016. The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: July 2016. London Continuum: University of East London.
The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: December 2017
Tindell, Gary, Weeden, Sheila and Storan, J. 2017. The Higher Education Journey of Young London Residents: December 2017. London Continuum: University of East London.
Higher Education in the USA, Student fees, financial aid and access
Allen, Liz, Solomon, Lucy, Storan, J. and Thomas, Liz 2005. Higher Education in the USA, Student fees, financial aid and access. Bradford Action on Access.
Widening Participation: A Rough Guide for Higher Education Providers
Storan, J. and Allen, Liz 2005. Widening Participation: A Rough Guide for Higher Education Providers. Bradford Action on Access.
TRANSFINE Project: UK Country Study
Storan, J., Saunders, Danny, Johnson, Bob, Thompson, Raymond and O'Hagan, Celia 2004. TRANSFINE Project: UK Country Study. London Continuum.
Mapping the capacity for reform: credit-based provision in London East
Andreshak-Behrman, Julie and Storan, J. 2004. Mapping the capacity for reform: credit-based provision in London East. London Continuum.
Bridging the Gap: widening participation in Sweden and England
Johansson, Maria, Kim, Lillemor, Storan, J. and Sörlin, Sverker 2005. Bridging the Gap: widening participation in Sweden and England. Swedish Institute for Studies in Education and Research (SISTER) and Continuum.
REFINE Project: England, Wales and Northern Ireland Country Report
Storan, J. and Johnson, Bob 2005. REFINE Project: England, Wales and Northern Ireland Country Report. London Continuum.
Sustaining Aimhigher - A Partnership Approach
Hudson, A. and Storan, J. 2011. Sustaining Aimhigher - A Partnership Approach. in: Jones, Peter, Storan, John, Hudson, Anthony and Braham, Jeff (ed.) Which Way Now to Widen Participation: Lifelong Learning, Economy and Society FACE: Forum for Access and Continuing Education.
Degrees of difference - higher education in further education
Hudson, A. and Storan, J. 2012. Degrees of difference - higher education in further education. in: Jones, Peter, Storan, John, Hudson, Anthony and Braham, Jeff (ed.) Lifelong Learning and Community Development FACE: Forum for Access and Continuing Education.
Evaluation & Sustainability Study: Aimhigher – Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Hudson, A. and Storan, J. 2010. Evaluation & Sustainability Study: Aimhigher – Hampshire & Isle of Wight. London Continuum: University of East London.
Higher Education and Communities: Barking & Dagenham
Berzins, Karina, Hudson, A. and Storan, J. 2010. Higher Education and Communities: Barking & Dagenham. Continuum: University of East London.
Editorial
Hudson, A. and Storan, J. 2011. Editorial. ESCalate newsletter. 20, pp. 1-3.
Enduring partnerships: the Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE)
Storan, J. and Hudson, A. 2011. Enduring partnerships: the Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE). ESCalate newsletter. 21, pp. 26-26.