Ready, set, work? career preparations of final-year non-traditional university students

Wong, B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7310-6418 and Hoskins, K. (2022) Ready, set, work? career preparations of final-year non-traditional university students. Higher Education Pedagogies, 7 (1). pp. 88-106. ISSN 2375-2696 doi: 10.1080/23752696.2022.2100446

Abstract/Summary

In higher education, non-traditional students experience a range of challenges, from aspiration and access into university to academic progress and success in their degree. Most students either enter employment or further study after their degree. This paper focuses on the latter stages of the effort to widen student access and participation in higher education, with an exploratory study of the career preparation and readiness of 22 final-year undergraduates from non-traditional backgrounds in the UK. We explore how students prepare themselves and are prepared by their degree for life after university, with the focus on career preparations and employment. In particular, we discuss the challenges for these students to engage in opportunities such as work experiences and extracurricular activities, which have implications for their chances of success and social mobility. We conclude with recommendations for practice, especially for academic and professional staff.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/106011
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/23752696.2022.2100446
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Institute of Education > Improving Equity and Inclusion through Education
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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