Extended Science: a powerful tool in widening participation

Authors

  • David John Harwood University of Plymouth

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.v0i10.263

Keywords:

year zero, extended degree, mature returner, widening access

Abstract

Year zero courses, as part of extended degree programmes, offer a robust and efficacious means of increasing participation in science and other areas of the university curriculum where graduate shortages have been identified, STEM subjects for example. This 23-year longitudinal study investigates the efficacy of this approach at one university and identifies the features which contribute to its success and may be transferable to other institutions and models. Quantitative and qualitative data are analysed and discussed. A particular feature of this approach is success in attracting, retaining and graduating mature returners as well as those with no prior familial history of participation in higher education. The critical importance of establishing a higher education learning culture also emerges.

Author Biography

David John Harwood, University of Plymouth

Associate Professor. Director, Institute for Science Education

Downloads

Published

14-10-2016

How to Cite

Harwood, D. J. (2016) “Extended Science: a powerful tool in widening participation”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (10). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.v0i10.263.

Issue

No. 10 (2016)

Section

Case Studies

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).