Exploring the concept of ‘ideal’ university student

Yuan-Li Tiffany Chiu,Billy Wong

doi:10.1080/03075079.2019.1643302

Yuan-Li Tiffany Chiu, Billy Wong

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1643302

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Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to our understanding of the ‘ideal’ university student – a working concept that promotes a more transparent conversation about the explicit, implicit and idealistic expectations of students in higher education. Drawing on Weber’s theory of ideal types, we explore university staff and students’ conceptualisation of the ‘ideal’ student. Informed by 20 focus groups with 75 university staff and students, we focus on how the concept of ‘ideal’ student is perceived, challenged and negotiated. We argue that the ‘ideal’ student has important conceptual and practical implications for higher education, especially the importance of explicitness and the dangers of presumptions. The concept has the potential to bridge differences and manage expectations between lecturers and students, which have been stretched due to consumerism, by offering a platform where expectations of university students are elaborated. We present a working definition of ‘ideal’ university student, which, we argue, encompasses desirability, imperfection and realism.

Highlights

In everyday language, the word ideal is often used to describe dreams and aspirations, such as the ideal house, holiday, job and car
Informed by 20 focus groups with 75 university staff and students, we focus on how the concept of ‘ideal’ student is perceived, challenged and negotiated
This paper aims to develop the concept of ‘ideal’ in the context of university students and promote a more transparent conversation about the explicit, implicit and idealistic expectations of students by university staff and students themselves

Summary

Introduction

The word ideal is often used to describe dreams and aspirations, such as the ideal house, holiday, job and car. This paper contributes to our understanding of the ‘ideal’ university student – a working concept that promotes a more transparent conversation about the explicit, implicit and idealistic expectations of students in higher education.

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