Refereed journal article or data article (A1)

A visit to another class? Working-class graduates entering university and the graduate labour market in Finland




List of AuthorsHaltia Nina, Isopahkala-Bouret Ulpukka

PublisherTaylor & Francis

Publication year2023

JournalJournal of Higher Education Policy and Management

Journal name in sourceJOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

Journal acronymJ HIGH EDUC POLICY M

Number of pages14

ISSN1360-080X

eISSN1469-9508

DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2023.2180166

URLhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1360080X.2023.2180166


Abstract

Working-class students often face more challenges in securing graduate-level jobs than their middle-class peers. This paper applies the concept of boundary crossing in studying the experience of Finnish business graduates from a working-class background (n = 27) and asks what types of boundaries they have faced and how they have managed them on their pathway through and after university studies. We identify three major boundaries: getting the actual study place, learning to be a student in university and graduating and getting a job in the graduate labour market. Our findings indicate that successful transitions are possible, as the Finnish higher education system enables them in many ways. However, successful boundary work demands socialising to the norms and values of the new social field as well as renewed relationships with one's social background. This paper discusses the implications of these findings for the development of inclusive policies and practices.


Last updated on 2023-30-03 at 10:50