208 pages
228mm x 145mm
ISBN-10: 1 85856 298 8
ISBN-13: 978 185856 298 8
August 2003

This book explores the reality of access to higher education for working class and ethnic minority adults. Thirty-two people here reflect on what held them back from engaging with further and higher education for so long, what eventually motivated them to aim for university and how they experienced life and study when they got there.

The findings of Marion Bowl's four year action research project reveal paradoxes in current national policy and institutional practice on widening participation and indicate what needs to change if the chances of mature students from non-traditional backgrounds are to improve. The author shows how the diversity of non-traditional students' experience could be harnessed to promote learning and to improve the life chances of such students.

The book will be invaluable to academics and policy makers in further and higher education and in careers guidance. It offers constructive solutions for all those who have an interest in widening participation and fostering social justice in education,' including students themselves.
A community worker, lecturer and researcher, Dr. Marion Bowl is Project Manager for Birmingham Reachout - a flexible, community-based access to higher education initiative.

This book makes a valuable contribution to understanding the experiences of mature students from historically underrepresented groups in higher education. - Studies in Higher Education

The style of language is clear and the student's stories are amazingly rich, touching and thought provoking... it should certainly be read by all FE and HE staff who need to understand more about the lives, views and struggles of 'non-traditional' students. - Widening Participation & Lifelong Learning

This is an admirable, important and well-written book that is finely produced by Trentham Books - Studies in the Education of Adults

This book is a valuable insight for anyone working in education as it brings to the forefront areas of concern that need to be addressed to ensure that higher education is truly diverse.- British Educational Research Journal

Bowl's work provides an essential perspective that other work on policy and professional practice does not do, i.e. it focuses on life stories of students rather than experiences of the practitioner. however, the fact that it also tackles policy and practice make it well-rounded and invaluable to academic staff and those engaged ion policy. - Education Review.