Report
Career Construction, Future Work and the Perceived Risks of Going to University for Young People from low SES Backgrounds: Research Fellowship Project Booklet
National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education
2019
Appears in NTRO Research Collection
Abstract
Research Background
The aim of this Research Fellowship project was to understand the interplay between career construction in the 21st century, future work, and the perceived risks of going to university for young people from low socioeconomic status (LSES) backgrounds. A university degree enables upward social mobility. As jobs in the future are more likely to need a university education, there is a need to accelerate efforts to uplift LSES participation to population parity to prevent the further deepening of social inequalities. The research question examined was How do the perceived risks of going to university influence the decision to participate in Australian higher education by young people from low SES backgrounds?
Research Contribution
This national project focused on the previously unexplored role of perceived risks in the decision to go (or not to go) to university for secondary school LSES students in Australia. The decision-making process of LSES young people was mapped and risk tolerance was introduced as a characteristic that can explain differences in how LSES students respond to the decision dilemma of whether to go (or not to go) to university. The research findings were translated into three tools for widening participation practitioners.
Research Significance
The then Australian Government Department of Education and Training (DET) funds the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education which administered this Research Fellowship. The Fellowship included a placement with DET which involved mentorship and presentations to staff. Key outcomes included extensive media coverage (e.g., The Australian, RN Breakfast interview with Fran Kelly), a guest presentation at 2018 World Access to Higher Education Day, secondment to the DET 2019 ‘Napthine Review’ taskforce that shaped the Australian Government’s Regional Education package and foundation of the HEPPP-funded ($522k) UniSC MindSET-do schools-based career development program.
Details
- Title
- Career Construction, Future Work and the Perceived Risks of Going to University for Young People from low SES Backgrounds: Research Fellowship Project Booklet
- Authors
- Maria Raciti (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- 18 pages
- Publisher
- National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education
- Date published
- 2019
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; USC Business School - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450650102621
- Output Type
- Report
- NTRO Classification
- NT2
Metrics
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