MATURED STUDENTS IN GREEK UNIVERSITY: DIFFICULTIES IN ATTENDING UNIVERSITY AND STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THEM (A QUALITATIVE APPROACH)

Dimitris Sakkoulis, Dimitris Vergidis

Abstract


The aim of our study is to highlight the characteristics of mature students who study in person in Greek universities , the difficulties they face and the strategies they use to overcome them. The research was conducted through semi-structured interviews with a sample of 10 students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of a regional Greek university and the data were analyzed using Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework. The results of the research showed that the characteristics that differentiate mature students from university students of typical age (18 - 22 years old) are related to adulthood. They enroll at university mainly to increase their institutional and symbolic capital, while the obstacles they face are mainly related to their family and professional obligations. They also develop specific strategies to achieve their goals. Finally, the Greek university needs to focus on this particular group of students and formulate a specific policy to contribute to addressing their problems.

 

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Keywords


matured students, adult students, nontraditional students, higher education, cultural capital, strategies

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i8.4931

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