Document Type
Working Paper
Rights
Available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International Licence
Disciplines
5.3 EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES, Sociology, Social sciences, 6. HUMANITIES
Abstract
This study explores how graduates who entered college as mature students, and ‘disadvantaged’ mature students, view and value Higher Education after graduating with a primary degree. The study highlighted the limited usefulness of the concept of disadvantaged mature student and the findings of the research were not significantly different whether one was a mature student or a disadvantaged mature student. The rationale given by the state for supporting mature students in Higher Education (HE) is that it will yield economic and social benefits for both the students and society. As a consequence a wide range of access policies has been developed to support the entry of ‘non-traditional’ students. However, to date there is very little research on what happens to such students while in HE and after graduation. This research gathered quantitative and qualitative data from the graduates of NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin and the Dublin Institute of Technology. The economic, social and personal benefits of participation in Higher Education were examined as were barriers to further career and career progression. Although most students valued their educational experience very highly the monetary benefits were more modest than expected. But the educational qualifications enabled many graduates to move away from routine work often with low levels of autonomy, status and pay. Overall, the research shows that for working-class mature students, students with disabilities and ethnic minorities HE is a highly valued transitional space that affords a greater level of career choice and opportunities to renegotiate aspects of personal identities.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21427/8rkr-z084
Recommended Citation
Kenny, A., Fleming, T., Loxley A., Finnegan F.: Where Next? A Study of Work and Life Experiences of Mature Students (incl. Disadvantaged) in Three Higher Education Institutions. Combat Poverty Agency, Working Paper 10/02, Ireland. ISBN: 978-0-9565660-0-3 April 2010. doi:10.21427/8rkr-z084
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Administration Commons, Community College Education Administration Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Disability and Equity in Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Special Education Administration Commons
Publication Details
Combat Poverty Agency Working Paper 10/02 ISBN: 978-0-9565660-0-3 April 2010.