Access and stratification in Nordic higher education. A review of cross-cutting research themes and issues^*

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this review is to investigate cross-cutting research themes and issues related to access and stratification in Nordic higher education (H.E.) (Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden). We synthesise how recent changes in H.E. policy, practise, and appropriations have influenced educational opportunities along social class, gender and age. In this review we highlight results and conclusions shared by various recent Nordic studies. The emphasis is on the common trends and patterns related to social stratification in access.

KEYWORDS:

• higher education (H.E.)
• access
• social stratification
• inequality
• Nordic countries

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the NordForsk Research Program, Education for Tomorrow for the funding of our collaboration and writing of this review. We would also like to thank Prof. Paul Ilsley for his helpful comments and editing of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. This review is produced by Cross-Cutting Themes and Issues in Nordic Higher Education Research with special focus on justice and equality in/through education collaboration initiative (2016–2017). The findings are based on the Nordic Fields of Higher Education Structures and Transformations of Organization and Recruitment (N.F.H.E.) project and by three teams within the Nordic Centre of Excellence: Justice through Education (N.C.o.E. JustEd). The report highlights essential approaches, results and conclusions shared by various studies and thus brings added value to Nordic H.E. policy and practise.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the NordForsk.

Notes on contributors

Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret

Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret is an Associate Professor (special focus in educational equality and justice) at Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE), Department of Education, University Turku, Finland.

Mikael Börjesson

Mikael Börjesson is a Professor at Department of Education, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

Dennis Beach

Dennis Beach is a Professor at Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Nina Haltia

Nina Haltia is a post-doctoral researcher at Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE), Department of Education, University Turku, Finland.

Jón Torfi Jónasson

Jon Torfi Jonasson is a Professor emeritus at the School of Education, Reykjavik, University of Iceland.

Annukka Jauhiainen

Annukka Jauhiainen is a senior lecturer at Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE), Department of Education, University Turku, Finland.

Arto Jauhiainen

Arto Jauhiainen is a Professor at Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE), Department of Education, University Turku, Finland.

Sonja Kosunen

Sonja Kosunen is an Assistant Professor at Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Hanna Nori

Hanna Nori is a university researcher at Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE), Department of Education, University Turku, Turku, Finland.

Agnete Vabø

Agnete Vabo is an Associate Professor at Oslo University College, Department of Public Administration and Leadership, Oslo, Norway.