The transition from vocational to higher education from the perspective of higher education admission staff

Abstract

Internationally there are ongoing attempts to increase both the participant rate in higher education (HE) and to widen access to underrepresented groups. This paper questions whether participation in vocational education and training (VET) provides a successful progression route into UK higher education. Following an overview of the UK policy agenda concerning admissions to HE, the paper presents an analysis of administrative data generated by the project "Degrees of Susscess". This project investigated whether growing participation in VET has resulted in increasing participation and successful progression of people with a vocational background in HE. Furthermore, five institutional case studies were conducted. These included interviews with students, lecturers and admissions staff. (Text extract ; BIBB-Doku)