Project
HEAD - Higher Education for All analyseD: An intersectional analysis of in- and excluding mechanisms in higher education
The main aim of this research project is an intersectional analysis of
in/excluding mechanisms in higher education for ethnic minority
students and those from socio-economically vulnerable groups. While
studies have identified these groups’ vulnerable position in both
college attendance & drop-out, few studies have delved deeper into
the underlying processes at the root of these issues. Consequently,
this research project investigates barriers & support-systems within
higher education in a comprehensive way. To do so, two
perspectives are employed: the agency perspective (i.e., the
perspective of the student) and the system perspective (i.e., the
perspective of the lecturer and system of higher education). This
results in three research objectives: 1) an in-depth analysis of how
students navigate the possible barriers and supports in higher
education with regard to study activities, interactions with peers and
lecturers, and institutional culture; 2) an in-depth analysis of how
systemic barriers in the higher educational context are presented in
the discourse of lecturers, the curriculum and teaching activities; 3)
an analysis of social equity issues following the rise in digital and
self-regulated learning; evolutions which have gained momentum
due to the corona pandemic and risk exacerbating the vulnerable
position of these groups. Doing so, this project provides a 360° view
of mechanisms for “Higher Education for All” on the individual,
interpersonal & institutional level.