Creating new demand? The development of out-reach access initiatives in higher education

Abstract The provision of out-reach access initiatives constitutes the most recent development in the growing field of access. Initiatives like Work-based access, School-Higher Education links and Community-based access courses, are now viewed as important methods of widening participation in higher education. This development entails something of a transformation in both policy and practice, from a concern with creating new supply to meet existing demand, via adult access, part-time, open and distance learning and other such initiatives, to a focus on creating new demand for higher education, particularly among social classes IIIM-V. This article examines the nature and purpose of out-reach initiatives, via two case studies on school- and work-related access programmes. Attention is paid to some of their more problematic characteristics, particularly in relation to issues of supply and demand, recruitment, ‘partnership’ and conflicting definitions of what counts as access.