Widening Participation in Physiotherapy Education: Part 1: Introduction

Abstract

Summary Widening participation is a term that has been promoted in further and higher education. It signifies an attempt to increase access to learning and provide equal opportunities for success and progression to those sections of society who have not traditionally participated or thrived in a learning environment ( Kennedy, 1997 Kennedy H Learning Works: Widening participation in further education. Further Education Funding Council, Coventry1997 Google Scholar ; Committee of the Vice-chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (CVCP), 1999 Committee of the Vice-chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (CVCP) Briefing Note: Widening Participation. CVCP, London1999 Google Scholar ). As a series of three professional education articles, these papers seek to address the concept of widening participation within the context of physiotherapy undergraduate education. Widening participation is a term that has been promoted in further and higher education. It signifies an attempt to increase access to learning and provide equal opportunities for success and progression to those sections of society who have not traditionally participated or thrived in a learning environment ( Kennedy, 1997 Kennedy H Learning Works: Widening participation in further education. Further Education Funding Council, Coventry1997 Google Scholar ; Committee of the Vice-chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (CVCP), 1999 Committee of the Vice-chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (CVCP) Briefing Note: Widening Participation. CVCP, London1999 Google Scholar ). As a series of three professional education articles, these papers seek to address the concept of widening participation within the context of physiotherapy undergraduate education.