From analysis of national policies and institutional practice across Europe, this Eurydice Brief shows that:

• Few countries have developed policy initiatives, strategies, targets and measures for improving access for people from groups currently under-represented in higher education.
• Systems to monitor the social characteristics of students could be improved, and data linked to concrete policy purposes - such as improving access and reducing dropout for disadvantaged students.
• The widening participation agenda is not yet followed through by governments and higher education institutions as a coherent policy approach involving access, retention and employability.

The Brief draws on key findings from the report, Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Access, retention and employability, and covers higher education systems in 34 European countries.
The modernisation agenda (European Commission 2011) supports higher education systems in Europe in responding to the needs of our increasingly knowledge-based economy and societies. To expand the knowledge base and foster progress, an increasing number of European citizens require high level knowledge and competences. Supporting the development of quality mass higher education systems is therefore high on policy agendas at both national and European levels. Download "Adult Education and Training in Europe: Widening Access to Learning Opportunities".

AE-PRO project offers an e-training about European developments and adult education European countries for adult education staff. More...