Globally, participation in higher education has risen substantially. According to the OECD ( Education at a Glance 2012) entry rates to university level programmes in OECD countries grew on average by nearly 25 percentage points between 1995 and 2010. Consequently, more than a third of today’s young people have higher level qualifications than their parents and around 62% of young adults are expected to enter university - level programmes over their lifetimes.

This is good news, but fireworks would be premature . Despite expanding opportunities, participation and success in higher education remain skewed. For instance, In OECD countries, on average 66% of individuals with at least one highly educated parent attain a tertiary degree, but only 20% of those whose par ents have low levels of education.

Europe has adopted the goal of achieving at least 40% of 30 - 34 – year - olds completing third level education by 2020. Some member states have already exceeded this target and have set themselves higher goals (e.g. Luxembour g 66%, Ireland 60%, France 50%), but many others will have to work hard to achieve it. Meeting targets at all levels will require attention to disadvantage , e.g.: to recruiting and supporting students from a broader range of backgrounds ; to reducing drop - out rates; and to strengthening pathways to higher education.

Full details and conference programme featured below and attached...

For further information, please contact Mee Foong Lee, Executive Secretary, European Access Network at telephone: +44 (0)20 8392 3857; email: [email protected]