Abstract
There is an accumulating body of knowledge that points to the fact that rurality is a crucial demographic to be considered in the identification of students with respect to access to and retention in the higher institutions of learning. Research shows that rural economies, for instance, help shape students’ career aspirations and labour options in these institutions. Among others, some students may find it difficult to make a decision on whether to go back to their hometowns instead of pursuing their dreams elsewhere in the community once they graduate from the higher institutions of learning. Students from rural areas are generally perceived to have low educational aspirations and achievement. Indeed, most of the studies concerning rural students tend to be tilted towards their educational and career choices. Interestingly, despite policy makers across the various sectors of the economy increasingly paying attention to the rural population, little focus has been directed towards transition, experiences and or participation of students from the rural communities in higher education. Against this background, this theoretical paper explores the barriers as well as opportunities regarding transition and participation of rural students, with a view to enhancing provision of meaningful higher education, including realization of the envisaged goals of this cycle of learning.
Highlights
More than ever before, attention is being paid to students from rural areas due to their potential value to both colleges and universities
Despite policy makers across the various sectors of the economy increasingly paying attention to the rural population, little focus has been directed towards transition, experiences and or participation of students from the rural communities in higher education
This is echoed by Gettinger (2019) who observes that since rural households have lower incomes compared to their urban and suburban counterparts, rural students are considered to be less profitable for colleges
Summary
Attention is being paid to students from rural areas due to their potential value to both colleges and universities. Other than the various colleges and universities, families and communities are important in preparing children for such institutions As their marketing strategy, a number of universities aspiring to enhance international student enrolment usually seem to pay attention to new countries or regions (Cole, 2019), with rural areas normally being overlooked. As per Koricich (2019), just 59 percent of the graduating rural high school students proceed to college in the fall as opposed to 67 percent in the suburban areas. This is a boon for recruiters who are set to enhance their online marketing formula targeting rural students, especially in the US. Among other things, such institutions should look for resources in order to supplement and boost rural student recruitment
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