It is perhaps ironic that as the global financial crisis has, in some cases, led governments and institutions to pull back from and/or set more modest goals and associated funding around widening participation, there is an ever-growing sense that the ideals buttressing the widening participation movement are becoming more universally acknowledged by educators across the globe. That acknowledgement has translated into action on the ground via such means as policy formulation, strategic planning and target setting - each of which often reflects local contexts and manifests a regional 'flavour'. There is also, however, an increasing realisation that there are commonalities in the challenges involved with national or regional initiatives to increase the participation of non-traditional groups in higher education and that the drivers of such initiatives - and ultimately the cohorts they target - stand to benefit considerably from an open exchange of ideas and sharing of experience. This book brings together current regional perspectives on widening participation as presented by prominent academics, researchers, policy-makers, and students from across the globe. It will create for policy-makers, institutions, and individuals interested in enabling access, a useful and informative resource that will introduce, formulate, shape and reinforce the ideas and aims of the World Congresses on widening access. As the contributors maintain, in an increasingly globalised market economy and in the face of recent seismic economic, political and social change around the world, it is imperative to both secure existing talent within our populations and uncover and nurture new sources of talent. The series of essays featured in this book will explore, anticipate, and highlight themes underpinning a global movement towards a step-change in thinking, strategies, and policies - one that places youth and students from around the world at its heart.

It is perhaps ironic that as the global financial crisis has, in some cases, led governments and institutions to pull back from and/or set more modest goals and associated funding around widening participation, there is an ever-growing sense that the ideals buttressing the widening participation movement are becoming more universally acknowledged by educators across the globe. That acknowledgement has translated into action on the ground via such means as policy formulation, strategic planning and target setting - each of which often reflects local contexts and manifests a regional 'flavour'. There is also, however, an increasing realisation that there are commonalities in the challenges involved with national or regional initiatives to increase the participation of non-traditional groups in higher education and that the drivers of such initiatives - and ultimately the cohorts they target - stand to benefit considerably from an open exchange of ideas and sharing of experience. This book brings together current regional perspectives on widening participation as presented by prominent academics, researchers, policy-makers, and students from across the globe. It will create for policy-makers, institutions, and individuals interested in enabling access, a useful and informative resource that will introduce, formulate, shape and reinforce the ideas and aims of the World Congresses on widening access. As the contributors maintain, in an increasingly globalised market economy and in the face of recent seismic economic, political and social change around the world, it is imperative to both secure existing talent within our populations and uncover and nurture new sources of talent. The series of essays featured in this book will explore, anticipate, and highlight themes underpinning a global movement towards a step-change in thinking, strategies, and policies - one that places youth and students from around the world at its heart.

The essential guide for any student embarking on their studies in the sciences or technology, this book introduces the core academic skills students need to learn effectively in this area and to prepare them for success in their (science) university science studies. It focuses on three key skills areas: research, argumentation and critical analysis; quantitative methods; and the conventions of written and oral communication. It explains how to read scientific literature and understand its different language style, terminology, data and argument analysis, and conflicting interpretations. The book also explains how to take data from a range of sources to help student's construct-or arrive at-their own perspective on a scientific issue and how to present and communicate it in both written and oral forms. It also explains in great detail the basic laws of mathematics for the basis to learning in any branch of science and can be used as a reference tool and source. Key topics include an introduction to tertiary study, e-learning and assessment; reading scientific literature, thinking and arguing critically; writing, researching and presenting and quantitative methods including fundamental mathematics, calculus, problem solving and statistics. Focused on step-by-step skills development, this book aims to help readers become better students who are more likely to succeed in their science studies.