Broadening the access to Higher Education: a case study on the experiences of mature students

Author(s):

Ana Luisa Oliveira Pires

Conference:

ECER 2008

Network:

22. Research in Higher Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

22 SES 06A, Widening Participation in Higher Education (Part 1)

Paper Session

Time:

2008-09-11

10:30-12:00

Room:

B2 213

Chair:

Mariana Gaio Alves

Contribution

In this paper we present data of a case study, developed by a research team, focused on the mature student’s learning and organizational experiences in a Higher Education institution in Portugal. To widen the access to Higher Education, and following the approval of a new law, mature students can apply to H.E. without having previous diplomas. However, in this country, Higher Education institutions do not have a strong tradition of teaching mature students, and there are several questions that need to be addressed in order to prepare institutions for the educational and organizational challenges. There is a lack of studies and research about the adult reasons and expectations regarding learning, education and training, especially from a lifelong and life wide perspective (Pires 2006-b). Their reasons, their interests and needs, are seldom known in depth, although they play a fundamental role in their demand and their participation in education and training activities. According to Merriam and Caffarella (1999: 45), participation in adult education is largely a voluntary activity, so “providers of adult education therefore need to know who is participating, why they are participating and what conditions are likely to promote greater participation”. According to Gordon (2004) there is still a considerable progress to be made in order to broaden the access, remove existing the barriers, develop new paths and structures to qualifications, and respond to the needs and requirements of adult learners. With this study we intend to shed some light on the expectations, motivations, main needs and difficulties of a group of mature students in a Higher Education institution.

Method

The case study, developed in a higher education institution – Higher School of Education of a Polytechnic Institution –, is focused in the experiences of mature students, after one year of academic experience. In a previous paper we had already identified the socio-demographic characteristics of the mature students that had access to this institution in the academic year of 2006-07 (Pires, 2007). In this step of the research we present the results of the questionnaire, that is structured in five parts: Personal and social characterization, Educational Trajectory, Professional Activity, Access to Higher Education and Academic experience.

Expected Outcomes

In this step of the research we present the results of a questionnaire aiming to identify the matures students motivations and expectations towards the course, the main obstacles and difficulties they have faced in their first year of studies, their level of satisfaction and their perceptions about the School strategies to support them. We want to identify what sort of challenges are at stake, in order to promote the academic success of this group of students, both from the educational and organizational perspective.

References

Globalization and reform in Higher Education, SRHE and Open University Press, UK . Gordon, Jean (2004) Editorial of Trends in Lifelong learning: improving opportunities for adult learning. European Journal of Education. Research,Development and policies. Vol.nº 39, number 1, March 2004 . Merriam, S. and Caffarella, R. (1999) Learning in Adulthood. A comprehensive guide. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco . Pont, Beatriz (2004) “Improving the access to and Participation in Adult learning in OECD Countries”. European Journal of Education. Research,Development and policies. Vol.nº 39, number 1, March 2004 . Pires, Ana (2006-a) “Higher Education and knowledge transformation – Adult perspectives about Lifelong Learning” (paper presented at ECER 2006, European Conference on Educational Research, Network 22: Research in Higher Education), Genève . Pires, Ana (2006-b) “Higher Education and the Adult motivations towards lifelong learning”, paper presented at the 2006 SRHE Annual Conference, Brighton, U.K. . Pires, A.L. (2007-a) “O reconhecimento da experiência no Ensino Superior. Um estudo de caso nas universidades públicas portuguesas.” Paper presented at XV Colóquio da AFIRSE 2007 – Complexidade: um novo paradigma para investigar e intervir em educação?”, Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Lisbon, Lisbon . Pires, Ana (2007-b) “Recognition of Prior Learning in Higher Education in Portugal: emerging practices and discourses from an empirical research”, paper presented at ECER 2007, European Conference on Educational Research, Network 22: Research in Higher Education, Ghent . Pires, Ana (2007-c) “Higher Education and mature students. A case study on students learning and organizational experiences”, paper presented at the 2007 SRHE Annual Conference, Brighton, U.K.

Author Information

Ana Luisa Oliveira Pires

Unidade Investigação Educação e Desenvolvimento (UIED)

faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Monte Caparica

174

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