THE ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE CHOICE OF THE APPLICANT’s EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY

Abstract

The article reveals the role on human capital in the choice of the applicant’s educational strategy. There is a deepening of social differentiation which manifests in the inequality of educational opportunities for high school graduates in modern society. The theory research is based on the resource approach and the concept of social capital by P. Bourdieu. The empirical part is based on the results of qualitative and quantitative research. Main motives of the applicants’ educational strategy are identified on the basis of interviews with high school graduates from Izhevsk. The analysis results show that main motives are starting positions, personal attitudes and ambitions. Difference in human and social capitals which everyone has is identified on the basis of a questionnaire among high school graduates in 2019. It depends on the type of family and school. The most significant resource for the formation of human capital is the financial and cultural family’s potential. The family’s social status predetermines the type of school that pupils graduate as well as the possibilities of attracting other educational resources including classes with tutors. Another type of resources is the applicant’s personal capabilities. These include educational skills and abilities, the current configuration of interests and attitudes towards achievements. Children from high-ranking families have an aim to enter to universities which is located in the capital. This choice of university requires their intellectual, time and material resources. But on the other hand, a significant part of high school graduates are forced to act according to restrictions imposed by the family. For example they studied at the nearest school, used free resources to prepare for the Unified State Exam or studied on their own. This category of graduates is focused on regional universities because their choice brings balance between quality of education and the volume of material costs.