Peter Mandelson and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have launched Higher Ambitions, the new framework for higher education.
Some news commentators have picked up on the recommendations that universities take more account of the social context of candidates during university recruitment and to prioritise measures that widen access to those from underprivileged backgrounds.
Even if one achieves the laudable aim of getting more students from deprived upbringings into higher education, will they be fully equipped to take advantage of the opportunity in order to develop their career decision making?
A report by Paul Greenbank and Sue Hepworth from Edge Hill University, Working class students and the career decision-making process, looks at ways in which the working class students who make it to university can still be disadvantaged in the job market. It makes interesting reading and challenges some of the assumptions that are made about such issues.
- What are we doing to equip and re-equip underprivileged students when they get to university?
- Should we have targetted programmes in place to help deal with the disadvantages that such students may carry with them?
Related post: Let the right one in
Careers - in Theory 
#1 by David Winter on 5 November 2009 - 12:41
A post on the Guardian Careers Blog raises the issue that some of the proposals in Higher Ambitions may induce students to make career decisions too early, resulting in more career changes later in life.
#2 by David Winter on 19 November 2009 - 07:43
Another report paints a different picture about the experience of students from poorer backgrounds.
See the actual report here.