Confronting contradiction: diversity experiences at school and university
Loading...
Date
2014
Authors
Wilson-Strydom, Merridy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
Transformation and the embracing of diversity remains a major challenge at South
African universities. This article reflects on the contradictory nature of first-year
university students’ experiences of diversity and highlights the difficult terrain that
students need to navigate, often with hardly any preparation for the university
environment based on their schooling experiences. Using the capabilities approach
as the guiding theoretical framework, the article interprets these contradictory
diversity experiences in the first year in light of data on encounters with diversity at
high school. It draws on the results of a large-scale mixed methods study. Qualitative
data, using focus group and visual methodologies, was collected from 270 first-year
students in 2009 and 2010. In addition, a total of 2.816 high school learners selected
from a diverse sample of 20 local schools completed a mainly quantitative survey
that included various items about interaction with diverse peers and the broader
community as well as engagement with complex and diverse ideas. The school-level
data provides important contextual background for understanding and interpreting
students’ experiences. Such understanding is critical if we are to confront and
challenge the contradictory diversity experiences during the first year at university.
Description
Keywords
Capabilities approach, Diversity, Transformation, Higher education, Schooling
Citation
Wilson-Strydom, M. (2014). Confronting contradiction: diversity experiences at school and university. Perspectives in Education, 32(4), 56-73.