The Challenges and Barriers Mature Students Face when Returning to Higher Education

Presentation

When adult learners decide to return to higher education, they are often perplexed by the challenges and barriers they face. For many adult learners, situational (juggling multiple roles), dispositional (attitudes, perceptions, and expectations), and institutional barriers (policies, procedures, or situations that disadvantage adult learners) are obstacles they never thought they would encounter upon their return. This webinar will discuss the barriers adult learners face and provide a detailed account of ten mature students’ journeys returning to higher education and their lived experiences. Based on the research conducted, the findings will present different strategies and recommendations for teachers to develop inclusive and collaborative classrooms.