Transition from Upper Secondary to Higher Education: Comparative Eurostudent Study

Description

The objective is to examine how the transition from secondary to higher education takes place. Authors analyse the availability of higher education both for those who chose to start studies immediately after secondary education (traditional transition) and for those who chose to start studies later (delayed transition to higher education).. Authors analyse Latvian data from Eurostudent 8 (2021-2024). Representative survey sample, n=2667. For the comparative analyses the authors employ data from Eurostudent 4, 5 and 6, and international data where appropriate.Three aspects of transition are analysed: transition from secondary education to higher education, work experience before entering university, study breaks. . 1. In 2022, 78% students started their studies at a university immediately after completing secondary education. Delayed transition (DT) has increased from 13% (2009) to 22% (2022). DT is observed more often for women, but the most important factor is having a child (61%).  Transition to higher education varies among countries and ranges from 2-3% (Germany, Slovenia, France, Malta) to 18-24% in the Nordic countries.2. Higher proportion of DT can be found among students without higher education background than among students with parents who have higher education.3. Before higher education, 34% students had regular work experience, which, compared to 2017, is a significant increase in the number of students with work experience. 4. 8% students had stopped their studies for 1-2 to 8-9 semesters. The reasons: financial difficulties, family circumstances,  health problems, inability to motivate oneself, dissatisfaction with the study program.. During the 15 years DT to higher education has increased, the proportion of students with employment experience have increased.  Therefore, it is important to develop flexible ways to ensure the transition to higher education. It is necessary to increase the opportunities to obtain education in a more flexible way, by diversifying the way it is presented.

Period	29 Mar 2023
Event title	RSU Research week 2023: PLACES
Event type	Conference
Conference number	3
Organiser	Rīga Stradiņš University
Location	Rīga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International