Improving Opportunities to Engage in Learning: A Study of the Access to Higher Education Diploma

Many colleges and universities see access and continuing education in functional terms – skills, competencies and capability development for adults seeking to improve their career opportunities. The real potential – personal change, development and transformation – is rarely the focus for such work. This book argues that change and development is not only as important as competency development, but is the key function of a college or university. It is not a polemic – it is an in-depth exploration of how institutions can sometimes get in the way of the learning agenda of their students. The book helps us think about what tutors and coaches in our colleges and universities are really doing when they provide access and enabling courses – they are transforming lives. The book makes suggestions about how this work could be better facilitated.