Can socioeconomic differences in university enrolment end by 2035? The recent Universities Accord interim report, part of a major higher education policy review, presumes this is possible. But the report under-estimates the practical obstacles to its objectives and over-estimates the likely benefits to the people involved.
The report proposes a target of ‘population parity in participation’ by 2035 for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. On current policy definitions, 25 per cent of students would be from a low socioeconomic background in 2035, up from 17 per cent of undergraduates in 2021.
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Andrew Norton is professor in the practice of higher education policy at the Centre for Social Research and Methods, Australian National University.
