The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Introducing the 'access and participation' and 'evaluation' agenda

Introducing the 'access and participation' and 'evaluation' agenda
Introducing the 'access and participation' and 'evaluation' agenda
This chapter presents a definition of participation in higher education (HE) and explores the regulator’s definition of evaluation, along with the purpose of evaluation within participation practices. The student lifecycle will be explored, specifically addressing when participation in HE begins, and which student groups participating in HE are of interest to the English HE regulator. This chapter will also explore the expected evaluation practices of participation work by HE providers as defined by the English HE regulator. A brief introduction to the complex setting in which participation and evaluation takes place will also be provided. The language of participation and evaluation within regulatory guidance will be critically scrutinised to understand why, and how, participation and evaluation are increasingly intertwined. Finally, this chapter ends by exploring the messiness of doing, and evaluating, participation work and challenges readers to consider whose value is prioritised in understanding what works.
35-62
Emerald Publishing
Clements, Naomi
8ad8dade-6317-4e60-b13d-fdd482e95511
Austin, Liz
McCaig, Colin
Clements, Naomi
8ad8dade-6317-4e60-b13d-fdd482e95511
Austin, Liz
McCaig, Colin

Clements, Naomi (2025) Introducing the 'access and participation' and 'evaluation' agenda. In, Austin, Liz and McCaig, Colin (eds.) Delivering and Evaluating Participation after Access: Higher Education in a Marketised System. Emerald Publishing, pp. 35-62. (doi:10.1108/978-1-83549-954-220251003).

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

This chapter presents a definition of participation in higher education (HE) and explores the regulator’s definition of evaluation, along with the purpose of evaluation within participation practices. The student lifecycle will be explored, specifically addressing when participation in HE begins, and which student groups participating in HE are of interest to the English HE regulator. This chapter will also explore the expected evaluation practices of participation work by HE providers as defined by the English HE regulator. A brief introduction to the complex setting in which participation and evaluation takes place will also be provided. The language of participation and evaluation within regulatory guidance will be critically scrutinised to understand why, and how, participation and evaluation are increasingly intertwined. Finally, this chapter ends by exploring the messiness of doing, and evaluating, participation work and challenges readers to consider whose value is prioritised in understanding what works.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 30 September 2025

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 509440
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509440
PURE UUID: d05af437-b7fe-42df-b99f-a6df54e5c523
ORCID for Naomi Clements: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6345-5684

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 23 Feb 2026 17:43
Last modified: 24 Feb 2026 02:54

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Naomi Clements ORCID iD
Editor: Liz Austin
Editor: Colin McCaig

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×