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Socio-economic inequalities in access to higher education in Ireland: achievements, failures and possibilities in comparative perspective.

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Title: Socio-economic inequalities in access to higher education in Ireland: achievements, failures and possibilities in comparative perspective.
Authors: Clancy, Patrick1 (AUTHOR) patrick.clancy@ucd.ie
Source: Irish Educational Studies. Jun2026, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p279-299. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Higher education, *Education policy, *Educational equalization, Equality, Irish history, Status attainment, Social mobility, Social policy
Geographic Terms: Ireland
Abstract: The achievement of equality of opportunity has been an important driver of the major expansion of higher education systems. This paper provides a review of more than four decades of research on socio-economic inequalities in access to higher education in Ireland. To contextualise the Irish experience the paper provides an overview of the international literature on social mobility and on the role of higher education in the status attainment process. The analysis differentiates between changes in absolute and relative levels of inequality. It identifies the further inequalities which arise from participation in distinctive forms of higher education in a system differentiated by college type, field of study and programme duration. The examination of both the national and international literature points to the importance of developing a comprehensive national equity promotion strategy in education but also in the broader spheres of economic and social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Irish Educational Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: The achievement of equality of opportunity has been an important driver of the major expansion of higher education systems. This paper provides a review of more than four decades of research on socio-economic inequalities in access to higher education in Ireland. To contextualise the Irish experience the paper provides an overview of the international literature on social mobility and on the role of higher education in the status attainment process. The analysis differentiates between changes in absolute and relative levels of inequality. It identifies the further inequalities which arise from participation in distinctive forms of higher education in a system differentiated by college type, field of study and programme duration. The examination of both the national and international literature points to the importance of developing a comprehensive national equity promotion strategy in education but also in the broader spheres of economic and social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Irish Educational Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03323315.2024.2429459
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 279
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      – SubjectFull: Higher education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational equalization
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      – SubjectFull: Equality
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      – SubjectFull: Irish history
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      – SubjectFull: Status attainment
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      – SubjectFull: Social mobility
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      – SubjectFull: Social policy
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      – SubjectFull: Ireland
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      – TitleFull: Socio-economic inequalities in access to higher education in Ireland: achievements, failures and possibilities in comparative perspective.
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              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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