• What works best in the skills system to support underrepresented groups into higher-paid occupations, sectors, and levels of seniority?
Background
DfE research interests for this pillar of the Opportunity Mission include enabling learners to make decisions that are informed by understanding the opportunities and support available, especially participation in further and higher education, and how continuing education affects their future opportunities. We also need to explore how our sectors can best prepare learners to take advantage of those opportunities, including in secondary education. We are especially interested in practices in further and higher education that engage less researched groups, such as those with care experience, those with SEND, experience of Alternate Provision, and children with a history of offending. However, this topic is not specific to further and higher education; for example, how different occupations and opportunities are conveyed to children at pre-school and school will influence their willingness to consider those paths in later life.
Full details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-education-areas-of-research-interest
Next steps
Get in touch with research.engagement@education.gov.uk
Related UKRI funded projects
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Opportunity, equality and agency in England's new VET landscape: a longitudinal study of post-16 transitions
This 5-year study will investigate how England's vocational education and training (VET) system can better support the school-to-work transitions of the 50% of young people who do not go to university. Routes into furthe...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
This project specifically focuses on investigating how vocational education and training (VET) can better support young people's transitions to further education, training, and employment, which aligns with the question's focus on supporting underrepresented groups into higher-paid occupations.
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Improving support for sixth form students' post-school choice making and transitions into further study and work
This fellowship aims to contribute to research-informed policy, practice and public debate to ensure that all school sixth formers receive high quality support for their post-school destinations, whether that choice is u...
Funded by: ESRC
Why might this be relevant?
While this project focuses on improving support for sixth form students, it does not directly address underrepresented groups in higher-paid occupations. However, it does contribute to the broader discussion on post-school transitions, which is partially relevant to the question.
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Governing the educational and labour market trajectories of secondary TVET graduates in Chile
Chile has experienced considerable educational expansion over the past few decades as a result of the growing demand for education from individuals and families and the positional competition for qualified jobs in the fo...
Funded by: Newton Fund
Why might this be relevant?
This project examines the educational and labor market trajectories of secondary TVET graduates in Chile, which provides insights into how TVET policies can support disadvantaged youth in transitioning to work. While not directly focused on underrepresented groups in higher-paid occupations, it contributes partially to the question's theme.