Higher education admission in Europe in the early 21st century – what are the challenges and how can they be addressed?

The massification of HE is continuing apace in Europe with HE participation having risen from 27 per cent in 2004 to 39 per cent in 2016. This expansion brings with it challenges for HE admission systems. How can students from diverse social backgrounds be included? How can high levels of student drop-out be avoided? How can graduate unemployment/under-employment be minimised?

This seminar will draw upon a major European Commission funded project looking at the nature of higher education admissions systems in 35 countries in Europe. The Study on the impact of admission systems on higher education outcomes project combines an assessment of secondary data from across all these countries with detailed analysis of HE admission systems in eight nations.

The study argues that admissions is a ‘holistic’ process that begins in late primary school and does not finish until early in HE in Europe. While across the continent admission systems are successfully facilitating entry for more and more students, many are creaking under the strain of massification, and systemic reform is needed. Dr Atherton will explore these strains and how to address them in the seminar.

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