Student Diversity in Higher Education: Conflicting Realities

The EAN 20th Anniversary Conference, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, “Student Diversity in Higher Education: Conflicting Realities” (Tensions affecting policy and action to widen access and participation), Mon 20th - Wed 22nd June 2011
The European Access Network (EAN) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a conference on student diversity in higher education and the tensions affecting policy and action to widen access and participation for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. In the current political and economic climate, what’s the future for them, and for the institutions committed to access, equity, diversity and inclusion?
Conference Theme & Objectives
For higher education institutions the pathway toward greater student diversity can be hazardous and difficult.  Those seeking and driving change in institutional policies and practices face pressures from both within and outside the institution that can hinder or stifle progress. Even in the best of times, fulfilling expectations can be difficult. Where achieving greater student diversity is seen as difficult and costly, or of lesser importance than other institutional goals, progress will falter.  Both within and outside institutions, there remains an unresolved tension between issues of diversity and quality, and there are also funding tensions, especially when finances are tight.
What can be done to ease such tensions and ensure that progress continues toward the achievement of diversity goals?
For higher education institutions the pathway toward greater student diversity can be hazardous and difficult. Those seeking and driving change in institutional policies and practices face pressures from both within and outside the institution that can hinder or stifle progress. Within institutions for instances, progress can be slowed by resistance to change among students and staff, by a need to reconcile competing needs and views and to align diversity efforts with other institutional goals and policies. Competition for funds among the institution’s varying priorities may sap energy as well as restrict budgets.
From outside the institution many of the pressures that can impede progress arise from the views and expectations of governments and communities about the roles and functions of higher education institutions – especially when institutions rely substantially on public funding. In the context of the global financial crisis institutions face even greater scrutiny to operate efficiently and deliver even more ‘value-for-money’...
Even in the best of times, fulfilling all of these expectations can be difficult. Where achieving greater student diversity is seen as difficult and costly, or of lesser importance than other institutional goals, progress will falter. Both within and outside institutions there remains an unresolved tension between issues of diversity and quality. Some argue that diversity dilutes academic quality and threatens the reputation of the institution, while others believe such fears are unfounded and point to the evidence that diversity enhances social and economic wellbeing. There are also funding tensions – with some arguing that attention to diversity is costly and consumes resources that would better be devoted to improving facilities, services and research – especially when finances are tight.