Aspects of Success in Studies for Higher Education Students From Minority Groups: The Case of Ultra-orthodox Women in Israel

Abstract

The low representation of minority groups in higher education challenges many countries. Integrating these groups requires the presence of a multi-faceted support system to include financial aid, educational support, and cultural adaptation of content, but most of the support is directed to bachelor's degrees. The current study aims to examine differences in measures of success for a bachelor’s degree and those for a master’s degree among Ultra-orthodox women in Israel. The study was carried out using a quantitative paradigm and was based on 116 female students who completed master's degrees in special programs for Ultra-orthodox women. The findings indicate that measures of success were found to be significantly higher in advanced degree studies than in bachelor’s degree studies. At the same time, it appears that the components of making a degree accessible for ultra-orthodox society are also considered higher for master’s degrees. This shows that the importance of cultural adaptation does not end with a bachelor’s degree, and it is very important for master’s degrees A culturally adapted environment, and specifically, content that is suitable for minorities, encourages a sense of belonging, which has been found to contribute to success.