Mature Female Entrants to Higher Education: Closing the Gender Gap in the UK Labour Market

Authors: Adnett, Nick; Coates, Gwen

Source: Higher Education Quarterly, Volume 54, Number 2, April 2000 , pp. 166-186(21)

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Abstract:

Little is known about the social and private economic returns to graduation for mature students in the UK. However, the post-Dearing changes in the funding of higher education have initially been associated with a significant fall in applications from this group of entrants. This paper, by providing an economic assessment of mature female entrants to higher education, allows a preliminary evaluation of these changes. It critically appraises the limited empirical work in this area, identifying methodological weaknesses. Theassessment addresses the issue of re-entry into employment and relates maturefemales' entry into higher education to the wider issue of gender inequality inthe labour market. It concludes that a case can be made for additional subsidies targeted at this group of entrants.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-2273.00154

Affiliations: 1: Staffordshire University, UK

Publication date: 2000-04-01