This edited collection illuminates the benefits, drawbacks, challenges, opportunities of the push to widen access to success and social mobility through university and other post-secondary education experiences in the UK and internationally. It examines a range of particular case studies, and addresses issues including the role of part-time study, the experiences of BAME students, increasing access within rural communities, issues faced by those with mental health problems, and the role of employers. There has been some progress in some countries; increased access and enhanced success for some targeted populations, but not for others; and improvements in some regions of particular countries, but not for others. Efforts to improve access to success and social mobility, to strengthen the identification and nurturing of talent in every community and every corner of our societies, is, like the 'curate's egg', only good in parts. This collection demonstrates that educational inequalities, unfairness and injustices still remain.

This collection reveals a recurring theme in the author's work over almost three decades: that the preoccupation in policy, commentary, research and practice with who gets into higher education has led to a corresponding failure to cast a critical eye over what, where and when they get the higher education offer. It seems that potential students are expected to fit-in with HE culture, rather than think about how HE might change to fit-in with them. On offer is a collection of the author's works, spanning much of his professional working life, covering issues relevant to widening access to success in higher education and for a wide-ranging audience. Some chapters offer conference speeches and keynotes; others are blogs or chapters in books. One is even a speech to an audience from the UK House of Lords delivered originally within the Parliament precincts. Together they paint a picture of the prevailing issues and concerns of the widening access agenda over twenty-five years. A recurring call throughout is the need for greater international collaboration, a need that has indeed grown in importance as the conversation on widening access and success has progressed. Some would say that this is due, in no small measure, to the work of this critical thinker and practitioner.

We know higher education is more than effective teaching and learning. This series examine the issues impacting HE providers, students, reputations and longevity of institutions across the world. Great Debates are just that - discussions designed to assess and evaluate the state of higher education systems, policies as well as social and economic impacts looking at inclusivity, accessibility, safety and leadership. These topics resonate with students, researchers and HE administrators alike. Titles included in this set: Teaching Excellence in Higher Education:Challenges, Changes and the Teaching Excellence Framework; British Universities in the Brexit Moment:Political, Economic and Cultural Implications; Higher Education Funding and Access in International Perspective; Sexual Violence on Campus:Power-Conscious Approaches to Awareness, Prevention, and Response; Evaluating Scholarship and Research Impact:History, Practices, and Policy Development; Access to Success and Social Mobility through Higher Education:A Curate's Egg?; The Marketisation of English Higher Education:A Policy Analysis of a Risk-Based System; Refugees in Higher Education:Debate, Discourse and Practice; Radicalisation and Counter-Radicalisation in Higher Education; Perspectives on Access to Higher Education:Practice and Research; Cultural Journeys in Higher Education:Student Voices and Narratives; Degendering Leadership in Higher Education;