Access to Higher Education Within a Welfare State System: Developments and Dilemmas

Abstract

Developments in higher education in most countries over the last decades have moved towards a stronger market orientation. This is also the case in the Nordic countries but at the same time these countries seem to differ from most other countries in the sense that higher education is still connected to welfare state policies. This chapter focuses on the case of Norway. Norwegian higher education is in a state of rapid and thorough transition, which forms a useful ‘laboratory’ for research, but at the same time makes it difficult to distinguish between long-term trends and ‘noise’ created at the time of implementation. Our focus is on the relationship between the funding of higher education, especially the student support system, and access to higher education, both in terms of total enrolment trends and equity. This chapter first discusses why access to higher education is expanding, and also the factors leading to inequitable enrolment. Second, it presents a brief description of the Norwegian context, including the higher education system. Then, after discussing general models for funding of higher education as well as for financial support of students, the chapter presents some information on how Norwegian higher education is funded, including the system for student support. The next section presents some key figures on higher education enrolments, including some indicators on equity, and attempts to relate these developments to funding. Higher education in Norway is at the moment in transition, and the conclusion examines the key elements in the ongoing reform process which may affect access.