Comments on: Demographic challenge facing higher education http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:04:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: Dr Rowena Passy http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-1587 Dr Rowena Passy Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:39:31 +0000 http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-1587 One of the possible responses to declining numbers of students entering higher education is for universities to attempt to widen participation among non-traditional entrants. The report by UUK suggests that increased competition for student numbers, when combined with the decline in number of potential students, will ‘reinforce the motivation of universities to engage with school pupils to encourage them ... to see higher education as an option for them’. At the National Foundation for Educational Research we have been investigating the impact of activities designed to motivate young people to enter higher education for a number of years, and are currently engaged in research related to Aimhigher and widening participation. While we would say that this is a rich research area that warrants further investigation, we would also suggest that exploring these young people’s experience of university is an important part of following up widening participation activities. In the light of higher rates of discontinuation over the past few years this kind of research becomes essential; there is little point in encouraging higher participation rates if retention then becomes an issue. One of the possible responses to declining numbers of students entering higher education is for universities to attempt to widen participation among non-traditional entrants. The report by UUK suggests that increased competition for student numbers, when combined with the decline in number of potential students, will ‘reinforce the motivation of universities to engage with school pupils to encourage them … to see higher education as an option for them’.

At the National Foundation for Educational Research we have been investigating the impact of activities designed to motivate young people to enter higher education for a number of years, and are currently engaged in research related to Aimhigher and widening participation. While we would say that this is a rich research area that warrants further investigation, we would also suggest that exploring these young people’s experience of university is an important part of following up widening participation activities. In the light of higher rates of discontinuation over the past few years this kind of research becomes essential; there is little point in encouraging higher participation rates if retention then becomes an issue.

]]> By: Sarah Bartlett http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-857 Sarah Bartlett Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:45:27 +0000 http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-857 My comments can be found on this blog posting: http://blogs.talis.com/xiphos/2008/11/18/dius-review-of-he-online-innovation-in-higher-education/. My principal argument is that a combination of demographic challenges described in the report, straitened economic circumstances which will worsen in the short to medium term imo, and uncompetitive technology all point to a need for a fundamental reimagining of the future of higher education in the UK. My comments can be found on this blog posting:
http://blogs.talis.com/xiphos/2008/11/18/dius-review-of-he-online-innovation-in-higher-education/.
My principal argument is that a combination of demographic challenges described in the report, straitened economic circumstances which will worsen in the short to medium term imo, and uncompetitive technology all point to a need for a fundamental reimagining of the future of higher education in the UK.

]]> By: Dr Richard Tyler, National HMO Lobby http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-751 Dr Richard Tyler, National HMO Lobby Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:27:43 +0000 http://hedebate.jiscinvolve.org/demographic-challenge-facing-he/#comment-751 The National HMO Lobby is concerned with the impacts of concentrations of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) on local communities, including student shared houses. The Lobby welcomes the broader approaches to HE proposed in the current debate on its future. The current expansion of HE has led to what has been christened 'studentification' (by academic research) of local communities. The forthcoming demographic decrease forecast by Universities UK seems likley to lead to 'de-studentification'. And then subsequent demographic increase suggests the possibility of 're-studentification'. The Lobby urges the agencies concerned to recognise the unintended consequences of HE expansion and contraction, and in their debate on the future of HE, to consider measures to alleviate these consequences. The Lobby has outlined its concerns in a paper presented to DIUS, available at The National HMO Lobby is concerned with the impacts of concentrations of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) on local communities, including student shared houses. The Lobby welcomes the broader approaches to HE proposed in the current debate on its future. The current expansion of HE has led to what has been christened ’studentification’ (by academic research) of local communities. The forthcoming demographic decrease forecast by Universities UK seems likley to lead to ‘de-studentification’. And then subsequent demographic increase suggests the possibility of ‘re-studentification’. The Lobby urges the agencies concerned to recognise the unintended consequences of HE expansion and contraction, and in their debate on the future of HE, to consider measures to alleviate these consequences. The Lobby has outlined its concerns in a paper presented to DIUS, available at

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