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Unequal uptake of higher education mobility in the UK. The importance of social segregation in universities and subject areas

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Abstract

Student mobility is the most recognised element of Erasmus+, a major EU policy which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017. It is clearly popular with an increase in student uptake from 3.2 to 272.5 thousands from 1987 to 2014. Recent studies show that studying abroad provides benefits like improved employment chances and language competences. These benefits are not equally distributed among graduates, since recent literature shows that disadvantaged students are less likely to study abroad than better off students. This is explained by differing social capital of individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds which impacts on different choices. However, not much is known about the role of social segregation in universities and subjects studied. Using multilevel logistic regressions this paper examines two main research questions. First, how important is social segregation in universities and subjects for unequal mobility uptake? Second, how much of existing differences in mobility by socio-economic background can be explained by ability of students? Throughout, results for Erasmus mobility will be compared with those of other mobility schemes organised by higher education institutes. The study exploits population data of more than 500,000 UK graduates of the 2010/11, 2012/13 and 2014/15 cohorts deriving from the Higher Education Statistics Agency data (HESA). Results show that a considerable part of unequal mobility uptake is explained by social segregation in universities and subjects even if graduates’ upper secondary school grades are taken into account. Policy makers aiming to increase mobility uptake of disadvantaged students could allocate resources for mobility more equally across universities.

Suggested Citation

  • Schnepf, Sylke, 2018. "Unequal uptake of higher education mobility in the UK. The importance of social segregation in universities and subject areas," Working Papers 2018-06, Joint Research Centre, European Commission.
  • Handle: RePEc:jrs:wpaper:201806
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    1. George Leckie & Harvey Goldstein, 2011. "Understanding Uncertainty in School League Tables," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 32(2), pages 207-224, June.
    2. Matthias Parey & Fabian Waldinger, 2011. "Studying Abroad and the Effect on International Labour Market Mobility: Evidence from the Introduction of ERASMUS," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(551), pages 194-222, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Schnepf, Sylke V. & d'Hombres, Beatrice, 2018. "International Mobility of Students in Italy and the UK: Does It Pay off and for Whom?," IZA Discussion Papers 12033, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Erasmus; mobility uptake; credit mobility; study abroad; social segregation; UK;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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