Adult tertiary education : some considerations

Abstract

Rapid expansion of the number of students in the higher education sector in the last decade has seen a diversity of the student population which includes a growing number of mature students who combine full or part-time tertiary education with other major roles. After exploring the literature, the study features a research involving a structured questionnaire and interviews with Maltese and foreign students studying at the University of Malta. The study aims to elicit the demographics of the non-traditional student and to discuss and examine the motivational and determining factors which influence mature students to begin mainstream tertiary education. It looks at the influences behind non-traditional students' decisions to persist with or modify their studies. It also explores what processes adult students use and what obstacles are encountered when mature students are faced with conflicting problems to integrate full/part-time study with existing family, work and social commitments. Three mechanisms are discussed for successful studying, namely sacrifice, support and negotiating arrangements of time for study, family, social obligations and/or work. This study makes it clear that coping with conflicting demands is a major issue for mature students. The high percentage of success indicates that students with multiple roles are not predestined to fail and that the role for universities in counselling and assisting students prior and during tertiary study is called for. Recommendations that could facilitate better outreach programmes and support systems are made.