Widening participation in higher education: reshaping identities of non-traditional learners
This paper centres around research conducted into the experiences and perspectives of a sample of non-traditional learners in HE.
Iona Burnell
University of East London
Non-traditional students who have no history in the field of higher education (HE) in the UK, and have progressed through non-traditional routes, often undergo a unique and profound experience. This can involve reshaping their identities and perceptions of themselves. This paper centres around research conducted into the experiences and perspectives of a sample of non-traditional learners in HE. For these students, HE has been made possible by widening participation policies and practice, and non-traditional routes such as access courses. The findings of the research are based on interviews with participants, all of whom are, or have been, mature working-class students in universities.
Iona Burnell (2015) ‘Widening participation in higher education: reshaping identities of non-traditional learners ’ Research in Teacher Education, 5(No.2), 6–11. Available at: www.uel.ac.uk/rite/issues/volume5/no2nov2015/articles/wideningparticipationinhighereducation/.
