Awkward associations: a critique of the language of widening participation for adult learners

This discussion paper critically evaluates the language and terminology of widening participation within the context of adult education, especially in UK higher education. The central argument is that adult education/widening participation has always been an awkward fit in conventional educational definitions and discourse, and this is reflected in the language, which too often is insensitive to diffident prospective students. On the other hand the difficulty of finding a language for new initiatives which is free of inappropriate associations must be acknowledged. My focus will be on my own professional experience over many years in university adult/continuing education and especially those students seeking mature entry to mainstream higher education programmes.