Background
How young adults perceive the value of higher education remains largely unexplored. In past decades, university graduates could expect both economic and social benefits from their educational investment. However, in the contemporary context characterized by increasing rates of student debt, structural and technological changes to professional occupations, rising levels of insecure work, and a globally competitive labour market, the ‘value’ of higher education is less certain, even as university qualifications have become increasingly standard. The potential impact of these structural changes on students’ university experiences and mental wellbeing, particularly within the Australian context, remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study
This study aims to advance understanding of the economic, social and psychological benefits and risks of higher education for young adults by investigating how contemporary students construct and assess the ‘value’ and purpose of their studies.
The research questions for this study are:
- What kinds of benefits (personal, social, economic, developmental, etc.) do young adults perceive that they gain from higher education?
- How do young adults appraise the costs of their education?
- Is mental wellbeing a consideration in (subjective and objective) appraisals of higher education’s benefits and costs for young adults?
The outcomes of the project will enable policymakers, institutional leaders and other stakeholders to reassess the benefits and costs of higher education participation for young adults in Australia.
Approach
This qualitative study will involve in-depth interviews with between 40-60 diverse undergraduate students from at least three Australian universities.