Adults in higher education: policies and practice in Great Britain and North America

This is a report prepared for the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Its purpose is to provide an overview of the situation concerning adult students in higher education in the USA, the UK and Canada, to analyse policies and policy options with regard to adult participation and to offer conclusions about the contemporary situation and suggestions for future development. There is a focus on the organisational and financial policies of these countries. Issues raised are: participation rates; class background; employment, family situation; attendance options and patterns; cost and modes of financing and the provision of continuing education by higher education institutions.