Academic Journal

The Socio-Demographic Profile of Spanish Adult Undergraduates: University-Level Compensatory Policies vs Life-Course (Dis)Advantages

التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان: The Socio-Demographic Profile of Spanish Adult Undergraduates: University-Level Compensatory Policies vs Life-Course (Dis)Advantages
اللغة: English
المؤلفون: Alfageme, Alfredo (ORCID 0000-0002-4659-6263), Seguí-Cosme, Salvador (ORCID 0000-0002-0595-2241), Monteagudo-Cáceres, Yazmín (ORCID 0000-0002-2236-1566)
المصدر: Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 2023 15(1):254-267.
الاتاحة: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
تاريخ النشر: 2023
نوع الوثيقة: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Adult Students, Undergraduate Students, Employment, Family Relationship, Responsibility, Access to Education, In Person Learning, Distance Education, Barriers, Equal Education, Lifelong Learning
مصطلحات جغرافية: Spain
DOI: 10.1108/JARHE-03-2021-0086
تدمد: 2050-7003
1758-1184
مستخلص: Purpose: To uncover age inequalities in participation in higher education (HE) in Spain, the socio-demographic profile of Spanish adult undergraduates is compared to that of the general population of the same age group (25-54). Specific attention is devoted to differentials between face-to-face and distance adult students. Design/methodology/approach: The study is mainly based on a comparative analysis of quantitative data generated by an online survey conducted by the authors among students over the age of 25 enrolled in Spanish public universities. Concurrent secondary sources have been considered as well. Findings: Employment and family obligations appear as powerful conditioners of adults' access to HE, their choice of study mode (face-to-face or distance) and their area of study. The possession of previous HE qualifications also appears as an important factor differentiating adult undergraduates from the general population. Research limitations/implications: The online survey is intended to reveal the main socio-demographic barriers to adult access to HE in Spain, rather than to draw a statistically representative profile of the target universe. The standard methodological recommendations have been followed to control the expected low response rate for the online questionnaire. Practical implications: The study points to the need to deeply articulate current university-level compensatory mechanisms with macro-level age-sensitive social policies. Social implications: Life course policies aimed at reducing age educational inequalities are advanced. Originality/value: The social conditioners of adult participation in HE are addressed through a conceptual framework combining the life-course perspective with the prevalent research approach, centred on the notions of lifelong learning and non-traditional learners' unequal access.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
رقم الانضمام: EJ1360799
قاعدة البيانات: ERIC
الوصف
تدمد:2050-7003
1758-1184
DOI:10.1108/JARHE-03-2021-0086