Reclaiming University Adult Education: A Freirian Approach to Widening Participation and Tackling Educational Inequality.

University adult education previously played an important role in enabling non-traditional adult students to access third level study. Renewed government efforts in the United Kingdom to tackling educational inequalities focuses primarily on schools, although the widening participation strategy places an onus on universities to play their part. This paper highlights research with learners engaging in university adult education and examines their learning journeys. The paper argues that resourcing universities and colleges to provide educational pathways for adults to re-engage with education has wider long-term and inter-generational benefits for families and communities and thus makes an important contribution to tackling educational inequalities.