Democratising Higher Education in Ghana and Tanzania
/ 2006

This paper discusses the findings to date from an ESRC/DfID funded research project on Widening Participation in Higher Education in Ghana and Tanzania: Developing an Equity Scorecard(www.sussex.ac.uk/education/wideningparticipation). The project is part of a Poverty Reduction programme and considers how higher education relates to the Millennium Development Goals. Using socio-cultural theory as a conceptual framework, this 3-year mixed method study is examining strategies taken by state and private providers to widen participation and the national and international policies contexts. It also aims to provide a comprehensive statistical overview of patterns of participation and achievement in higher education in two African countries. Findings are presented in the form of Equity Scorecards. Statistics are illuminated via interviews with students, academic staff and policy-makers.