A mismatch in expectations of higher education and resultant pedagogical tensions. Is it possible to bridge the gap?

HE has become more accessible with enrolment at different entry points. This can both enrich classroom interactions and pose challenges arising from diverse learner needs. Some view a university degree as a requirement to advance their career ambitions. Academics’ pedagogic approaches are influenced by co-existing agendas of widening participation and employability agendas, but also by managerial concerns regarding student success. This study examines how lecturers have developed their teaching, learning and assessment practices, and reflects on their experiences relating to student engagement. The outcomes reflect on tensions and concept of the ‘ideal student’.