Heffernan, T. (2022). 'Introduction'. In. Bourdieu and Higher Education. Singapore: Springer. pp. 1-6.

Heffernan seems to be writing and researching in the same area I am. This book is an amalgamation of much of his research in the area of higher education policy and administration and, in particular, inequity in the sector. He is currently based at the University of Manchester, but was previously working in Australia. 

The introduction to the book has prompted me to think that there may be a need for a small section on the history of higher education in my thesis, which could help illustrate how the primary objective of higher education appears to have changed. Some of this appears, on the face of it, to be negative - a shift from institutions focused solely on the acquisition and sharing of knowledge to a business model reliant on revenue generation. However, as Heffernan reminds us, the shift has also been from an exclusionary institution to one that welcomes (and, with widening participation, actively encourages) women, people of colour and those with disabilities and from different cultures. 

I think this book is going to be helpful in providing context for understanding the impact apprenticeships are having on the sector, in particular the perception of the intention of higher education. From my learning to date, I would argue that higher education should be about teaching people how to think, how to learn and how to communicate through the acquisition of knowledge (whether through teaching or research). As things currently stand, it seems the current driver is for higher education purely to deliver knowledge with the intent to increase earning potential and that it is this that creates social mobility and reduces inequality. My argument is that it is actually that 'hidden curriculum' of having the tools to become curious, critical, creative thinkers capable of lifelong learning, development and of communicating to share knowledge (i.e. the original aim of higher education). I would argue that it is the widening participation in higher education that drives social change; not the fact that larger numbers of people know more things and can earn more money.

References

Heffernan, T. (2022). 'Introduction'. In. Bourdieu and Higher Education. Singapore: Springer. pp. 1-6