An investigation into mature students’ intention to pursue higher education in the UK

Abstract

Whilst there has been growing attention paid to the paradox around the concept of employability and widening participation agenda, insufficient attention has been paid to intentions of mature students enrolling in the UK higher education. The focus of this study is mature students domiciled in the UK. The empirical literature reviewed presents limited evidence around factors that influence the intention to pursue higher education in the UK. These factors form the key issues for the tertiary education authorities to acknowledge. Hence, this research identified these factors. To achieve this a two-stage literature review process was implemented i.e., critical review of literature followed by systematic review (PRISMA application). The factors identified are personal development, employability, student engagement and financial support. An adapted model based on a newly established theoretical framework Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit (TRGP) tested significant relationship between the identified factors to attitude, intention, control belief, perceived control behaviour and enrolment (actual behaviour). TRGP is a newly established theoretical framework based on well-established Theory of Planned Behaviour and Goal System Theory. TRGP has only been applied to health research to predict the intentions for certain health behaviours. The adapted model could be implemented in future research to predict various key behaviours. In this current study this model has generated evidence around mature students’ intention to pursue higher education. Quantitative research methodology was applied, and 349 participants (mature students) data was collected which was then tested using the statistical tool SPSS AMOS extension. This study adopts CB-SEM (Covariance based structure equation modelling) for its ability to effectively test the model developed featuring complex relationships. The current body of knowledge around application of CB-SEM confirms that incorporating confirmatory factor analysis could enhance the reliability and validity of the study. With a focus on generalisability, CB-SEM's requirement for a large sample size aligns with the essence of quantitative research. The assessment of model fit, a critical function enabled by CB-SEM, ensures the empirical viability of the hypothesised model. This study included a theoretical foundation to achieve a model fit and fit indexes served as supplementary information. This study found significant relationship between procurement goal and control belief, the mediating relationship between procurement goal, control belief and attitude are significant. Control belief and perceived control behaviour also indicated significance. This study contributes to knowledge by filling the gap in relation to mature students intention to pursue higher education in the UK and confirms the link between employability, personal development, student engagement and financial support and mature student’s intention to pursue higher education in the UK. This study provides recommendation the factors considered could build a solid evidence base for development of future higher education policies specially around enrolment, entry requirements and assessments in providing student loans and the adapted model is applied to test various other behaviours. It reveals that there is a gap between HEIs and government agenda due to lack understanding around mature students’ intention to pursue higher education in the UK.