Students' Perspectives Regarding (Dis)advantage on Making Choices about Universities to Enrol In: A South African Case [Konferenzbericht] Paper presented at the Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES) (19th, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jun 2021).

Autor/in	Gore, Oliver Tafadzwa
Titel	Students' Perspectives Regarding (Dis)advantage on Making Choices about Universities to Enrol In: A South African Case [Konferenzbericht] Paper presented at the Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES) (19th, Sofia, Bulgaria, Jun 2021).
Quelle	(2021), (7 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Low Income Students; Disadvantaged Youth; Student Attitudes; College Choice; Decision Making; Costs; Paying for College; Access to Information; Admission Criteria; Barriers; Inclusion; Blacks; Racial Bias; Student Diversity; Undergraduate Students; Institutional Characteristics; Student Characteristics; Reputation; Middle Class; Minority Group Students; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Benachteiligter Jugendlicher; Schülerverhalten; Studienortwahl; Decision-making; Entscheidungsfindung; Cost; Kosten; Studienfinanzierung; Admission; Admission procedures; Zulassungsbedingung; Zulassungsverfahren; Zulassung; Inklusion; Black person; Schwarzer; Racial discrimination; Rassismus; Mittelschicht; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	Although engagement of the low-income students increased since the introduction of inclusive policies in the post-apartheid higher education in South Africa, inequality of access, participation and achievement still persists. While focus has been on increasing enrolment and addressing students' concerns in universities, little attention has been dedicated to exploring student (dis)advantage when making choices about a given university. This study aims to understand the opportunities that students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds have in making choices about the universities they wish to attend. Using the capability approach the findings of this study show that when students have the opportunity and agency to make informed decisions about university selection, they are able to follow their desired educational and career goals and become advantaged. This qualitative study draws from semi-structured interviews from 26 final-year undergraduate and honours students from one South African university. Findings show that despite of students' aspirations, the low-income students' abilities to make informed decisions were constrained by the circumstantial factors particularly the interplay of lack of financial resources, support and information, and failure to meet the required entry requirements, which imply disadvantage. By a way of contrast, middleclass students' decisions were based on their long-term plans and were reflective of their rational choices pointing to advantage. While universities might not be able to address some of the reported challenges, the study offers some recommendations for universities and schools to consider as a way of improving students' inclusive access to universities. [For the complete Volume 19 proceedings, see ED613922.] (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Bulgarian Comparative Education Society. Blvd Shipchenski prohod 69 A, 1574 Sofia, Bulgaria. e-mail: info@bces-conference.org; Web site: http://www.bces-conference.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01