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V. Foreign Higher Education and Education Systems, International Relations, Bilateral Relations
B. Essays, Commentaries, Statements
Author OSBORNE, Michael
Title Becoming a mature student : how adult applicants weigh the advantages and disadvantages of higher education / Michael Osborne ; Andrew Marks ; Eileen Turner
Publication year 2004
Source/Footnote In: Higher education. - 48 (2004) 3, S. 291 - 315
Inventory number 18023
Keywords Studentenschaft : Studienverhalten ; Studentenschaft : allgemein
Abstract The data presented in this paper is taken from the results of two much larger studies of mature student decision-making and Higher Education (HE), which consider processes of agency from initial consideration of the possibility of becoming a student to eventually becoming one. In this paper, six categories of applicant to HE are discussed: "Delayed traditional students", "Late starters' who have undergone a life-transforming event e.g. redundancy or divorce and require "a new start". "Single parents" , "Careerists'", who are currently in employment who seek a qualification to make progress in their existing careers, "Escapees" who are currently in employment who want a qualification as a way out of "dead-end'" jobs, Finally, the "personal growers", a small number pursuing education for its own sake. These categories of applicants are discussed in light of the factors that both catalyse and inhibit individuals' decision-making during application to HE. (HRK / Abstract übernommen), Osborne, Michael, E-Mail: j.osborne@stir.ac.uk