A comparative view of Colleges of Further Education (UK) and Community Colleges (US): maintaining access in an era of financial constraint

Abstract

In an era of financial constraint, this article gives attention to the role of ‘community college global counterparts’ by comparing colleges of further education in the UK with community colleges in the US. It points to similarities between the two and the ways in which budgetary constraints impact on them – and, in particular, on access opportunities for different groups of students, such as those from non-traditional backgrounds. It is suggested that admission is not so much an issue of selection, but one of social, cultural and economic capital, and how this plays out in terms of getting into college, staying in college and differential progression into higher education or higher-level occupations is considered.