Exploring Widening Access for Mature Age Students: International Data, Experiences and Practices

Based on current data, descriptive case studies and theoretical perspectives, Exploring Widening Access for Mature Age Students considers international techniques and approaches to non-traditional and mature students in Further and Higher Education.

The book provides quantitative and qualitative information regarding contemporary ways of thinking about, and institutional responses to, widening access for mature students (WAMS). It gives an up-to-date assessment of the current climate, bringing together international voices to meet the growing and urgent requirement for working age adults to remain employable as occupational competencies evolve, and describes and enumerates approaches which are in operation to attract, educate and retain students with non-traditional entry requirements. Focused on the results of an international survey and a qualitative benchmarking exercise undertaken by ten institutions from the Global North and South, this volume offers advice and examples for best practice to those working to support wider access to Further and Higher Education for WAMS.

This book provides current information and support to any education professionals who wish to understand what can be done to meet the challenge of what the future of work will look like.

David Baker is Director of David Baker Consulting, UK, and Professor of Strategic Information Management, Plymouth Marjon University, UK.

Lucy Ellis is Senior Associate of David Baker Consulting and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter, UK.

Nazim Uddin is a Director of Nelson College London, UK. He is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Higher Education Academy.