Michael Pokorny *|Helen Pokorny
Widening participation in higher education: student quantitative skills and independent learning as impediments to progression
uk governments widening participation strategy concomitant development mass higher education system imposed variety pressures higher education institutions least changing nature student population assumptions made skills knowledge base surprising rapid expansion higher education system resulted declining student progression retention rates paper takes case study approach attempts identify range factors might explain variability student performance first year undergraduate introductory statistics module paper concludes simple predictors success failure however evidence suggest innovations delivery need take account individual student development presumption students rapidly become independent learners upon initial entry higher education unrealistic one