Inequality of Opportunity In Higher Education

This session invites contributions that examine inequality of opportunity in higher education from comparative, national, or institutional perspectives. It aims to bring together research that analyses educational inequalities in access to, persistence in, completion of, and returns to higher education across different social contexts.

Particular attention will be given to studies addressing educational transitions, institutional differentiation, vertical and horizontal inequalities, academic trajectories, educational achievement, and their impact on labour market outcomes. Contributions may explore how social origin, gender, territorial inequalities, ethnicity, migration, institutional arrangements, and public policies shape educational opportunities and educational attainment.

The session welcomes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Comparative research and studies that contribute to the development and use of social indicators to measure educational inequality are especially encouraged.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: inequalities in access to and completion of higher education; social stratification and educational transitions; institutional differentiation; expansion and diversification of higher education systems; educational returns and labour market insertion; and methodological challenges in measuring inequality of opportunity.

The session seeks to promote dialogue on current challenges in the study of higher education and to contribute to broader debates on social inequality, educational policies, and the role of social indicators in the measurement of educational and social inequalities.

The session will be organised as an open paper presentation session, including 4–5 presentations followed by discussion.