Massification of higher education in the
Europe Region is no longer a policy objective but a reality.
This new situation involves new challenges. The Forum
attempted to approach the complex problems of “mass access” in
higher education in relation to issues of equity, quality
and excellence, focusing on quantitative and qualitative
trends and reflecting on new developments affecting access,
such as the imperatives of lifelong learning, international
mobility, demographic transformation and migration.
When investigating the various
implications of expansion of higher education in terms of
equity, participation, retention or success, the Forum will
consider the existing comprehensive work undertaken in the
area - such as that by OECD in its Thematic Review of
Tertiary Education, 2008. The Forum continued the
discussion proposed by OECD concerning various policy
developments options for increasing access to higher
education with due attention to equity issues - assessing
the extent and origin of equity issues to diversifying
criteria for admission, expanding distance learning
opportunities; sustaining efforts to ensure gender parity at
all levels of higher education; and placing emphasis on
equity of outcomes
