1. Going to College barriers & perceptions
A Presentation Prepared For:
November 2014
S14-308
MMcL/MOD/PK
2. 2
A. Introduction & Background
MAIN FINDINGS
SECTION 1: Introduction & Background SECTION 2: National Surveys Results SECTION 3: Dublin 10 & Dublin 17 Results
OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS
Table of Contents
3. 3 In preparation for College Awareness Week 2014, Amárach Research was commissioned to conduct two parallel studies:
1.Questions were placed on the Amárach Research Online Omnibus. This is a nationally aligned study among 1,000 adults, with quotas set on gender, age, region and social class.
2.A face-to-face study was also carried out in Dublin 10 and Dublin 17, two areas with low levels of third level education take-up. Quotas were set on gender (as per the 2011 census and all respondents were over the age of 18). Where possible, comparisons have been made between the national study (omnibus) and the face-to-face study. All fieldwork took place between November 3rd and 7th 2014.
Introduction & Background
4. 4
Sample Profile – National Survey
(Base: All respondents 18+ – 1,000)
49
12
49
28
51
22
52
26
20
28
17
18
29
Male
Female
18-24
55+
25-34
35-44
ABC1 F50+
C2DE F50-
%
%
%
Dublin
Munster
Conn/Ulster
ROL
Sex
Social Class
Region
%
Age
45-55
9. 9
Education Profile x Demographics
Dublin 10:
Gender
Age
Social Class
125
Male
Female
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
ABC1
C2DE
Primary School
16%
18%
14%
0%
4%
0%
12%
53%
0%
19%
Secondary School (Junior)
30%
35%
26%
8%
21%
32%
53%
41%
6%
33%
Secondary School (Leaving) 26%
22%
29%
40%
39%
32%
18%
3%
13%
28%
Advanced/ Higher Cert
16%
9%
22%
20%
29%
14%
18%
3%
19%
16%
Bachelors Degree
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
14%
0%
0%
31%
0%
Masters/ Post Grad Diploma
2%
5%
0%
0%
4%
9%
0%
0%
19%
0%
PhD
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
* Caution: small base size
10. 10
Education Profile x Demographics
Dublin 17:
Gender
Age
Social Class
125
Male
Female
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
ABC1
C2DE
Primary School
9%
14%
5%
0%
0%
0%
7%
38%
2%
13%
Secondary School (Junior)
18%
16%
21%
12%
14%
19%
22%
25%
0%
29%
Secondary School (Leaving) 31%
29%
33%
44%
21%
25%
41%
25%
33%
30%
Advanced/ Higher Cert
23%
21%
25%
36%
28%
31%
15%
8%
29%
20%
Bachelors Degree
7%
7%
6%
0%
10%
6%
11%
4%
13%
3%
Masters/ Post Grad Diploma
7%
5%
8%
0%
17%
13%
4%
0%
13%
3%
PhD
2%
2%
2%
0%
3%
6%
0%
0%
4%
0%
* Caution: small base size
11. 11
Rationale for Not Completing Further Education
Wanting to get a job is the primary rationale for not completing further education, followed by financial constraints (nationally) and a lack of interest (Dublin 10 and 17).
Q. Can you tell me why you did not complete further education?
Wanted to get a job
Finical constraints
Was not interested in further education
Was not ready for further education
Didn’t sit my leaving cert or equivalent
There was no course to suit my needs
Did not get enough points in my exams
Enrolled but failed to finish course
Still in secondary school
Family/ personal circumstances
Other
%
44
28
19
7
6
5
4
2
2
2
6
%
49
11
21
0
17
0
0
1
1
1
4
%
45
4
15
3
1
3
3
1
13
1
11
Dublin 10:
89*
Dublin 17:
73*
National: 343
(Base: All adults 18+ who have not completed further education)
*Caution small base size
13. 13
Further Education Consideration
Over half of those who have not completed further education would consider completing further studies in the future. This is higher among females and the younger cohorts.
Q. Would you consider attending further education now or in the future?
(Base: All adults who did not attend further education - 343)
%
55
26
19
Yes
No
Gender:
–Male: 52%
–Female: 57%
Age:
–18-24: 93%
–25-34: 79%
–35-44: 61%
–45-54: 54%
–55+: 32%
Region:
–Dublin: 59%
–Rest of Leinster: 58%
–Munster: 51%
–Connaught/ Ulster: 47%
Social Class:
–ABC1F50+: 57%
–C2DEF50-: 54%
Profile of Sample
Don’t know
14. 14
Level of Information Currently Available To Mature Students
Relatively even split between adults satisfied with the level of information available on further education to mature students. The younger cohorts most satisfied.
%
44
41
15
Yes
No
Don’t know
(Base: All adults 18+ 1,000)
Q. Regardless of if you have attended further education or not, do you believe there is enough information available to mature students who wish to return to a learning environment?
Gender:
–Male: 47%
–Female: 42%
Age:
–18-24: 56%
–25-34: 47%
–35-44: 44%
–45-54: 32%
–55+: 44%
Region:
–Dublin: 44%
–Rest of Leinster: 43%
–Munster: 48%
–Connaught/ Ulster: 39%
Social Class:
–ABC1F50+: 45%
–C2DEF50-: 43%
College Educated:
–Yes: 44%
–No: 43%
Profile of Sample
15. 15
Chosen Course: Right or Wrong?
Of those who have completed/ are completing further education, 3 in 4 believe that they chose the right course. Relatively even split across the demographics.
Q. Thinking back to the course you recently completed, do you feel it was the right course for you?
%
74
21
5
Yes, it was right course for me
No, I should have chosen something different
I am not in the course long enough to answer
(Base: All who have completed/are completing third level course - 643 )
Gender:
–Male: 74%
–Female: 74%
Age:
–18-24: 67%
–25-34: 72%
–35-44: 71%
–45-54: 78%
–55+: 79%
Region:
–Dublin: 76%
–Rest of Leinster: 74%
–Munster: 72%
–Connaught/ Ulster: 73%
Social Class:
–ABC1F50+: 75%
–C2DEF50-: 71%
Profile of Sample
16. 16
Real Life Influences to Attend College
Upskilling for future employment is the primary motivator for completing further education, with 4 in 5 being influenced by this.
Q. Thinking about the factors that influenced your most recent college course, please rank them with 1 being the most influential?
To upskill for future employment
Employer or work
Friends
Availability of scholarship or finance
Teachers in school/coach/mentor
A sibling or family member in college
Classmates
A sibling not attending college
Other
36
21
9
8
9
5
4
1
6
27
20
12
15
12
5
4
2
3
79
58
41
41
39
20
17
11
23
2nd
1st
Total
(Base: All who have completed/are completing third level course - 643 )
17. 17
Real Life Influences Not to Attend College
For those who did not complete further education, the primary reason was the need to work to support themselves and/ or their family.
Q. Thinking about the factors that influenced your most not to complete further education, please rank them with 1 being the most influential?
Need to work to support myself/my family
Lack of availability of a scholarship/finances
Employer or work
Friends
Teachers at school
A sibling or family member receiving further education
A sibling not attending further education
Classmates
2nd
1st
Total
(Base: All who are not/have not attended college - 343 )
31
26
20
6
8
3
1
5
26
27
16
10
7
5
6
3
73
68
65
34
29
19
19
17
18. 18
School Guidance
Over half of respondents did not receive career guidance while at school. The younger cohorts are more likely to have received career guidance than the older population.
Q. In deciding whether or not to pursue further education, did you receive guidance on courses and the career opportunities arising from them while at school?
%
38
52
9
Yes
No
–18-24 – 72%
–Connaught/ Ulster – 42%
–College attendees – 41%
Highest Amongst
Don’t know/
Not applicable
(Base: All adults 18+ 1,000)
–45-54 – 60%
–55+ - 68%
–Rest of Leinster – 57%
–No 3rd level education – 57%
19. 19
Financial and Government Support
The younger cohorts are more likely to know about financial supports, which is unsurprising given that they are of college going age.
Q. From a financial perspective are you aware of financial supports (such as grants) available to assist students with the cost of college?
(Base: All adults 18+ - 1,000)
%
61
39
Yes, aware
No, unaware
Financial Supports
Gender:
–Male: 57%
–Female: 64%
Age:
–18-24: 81%
–25-34: 59%
–35-44: 57%
–45-54: 59%
–55+: 58%
Region:
–Dublin: 51%
–Rest of Leinster: 63%
–Munster: 67%
–Connaught/ Ulster: 64%
Social Class:
–ABC1F50+: 64%
–C2DEF50-: 58%
College Educated:
–Yes: 63%
–No: 57%
Profile of Sample
20. 20
96
51
93
2
38
3
2
11
4
Supporting Children in Education
While the majority (96%) would encourage their child to pursue further education, there is a distinct lack of knowledge among parents on the issue.
Q. Considering your own level of education, would you encourage your child/children to pursue further education?
Q. Do you believe that you have sufficient knowledge about further education/college course to advise your child/children on their options?
Q. Would you favour greater information for parents/guardians from schools on further education opportunities for children?
(Base: All parents - 663)
%
Yes
No
Encourage Child/Children
%
Yes
No
Sufficient Knowledge
%
Yes
No
Greater Information
Don’t know
Don’t know
Don’t know
College Educated:
97%
52%
94%
21. 21
Suggestions for Access Improvement
%
60
55
47
46
42
42
25
7
6
Improve Affordability/Access
Q. If you were Minister for Education, which of the following would you do to help improve affordability/improve access to higher or further education?
Parents believe that tax incentives would best improve access/ affordability for further education for their children.
(Base: All parents - 663)
Provide tax incentive to parents to send children to college
Increase the grant available to students
Increase guidance on college options in schools and in the community
Incentivise employers to provide internships and provide towards fees
Abolish fees
Reduce fees form their current level
Freeze fees for a certain number of years
Increase taxes to reduce fees
Other
*All others less than 2%
23. 23
College Attended
Q. What college did you attend for your most recent qualification?
Crumlin College of Further Education
Ballyfermot College
DCU (Dublin City University)
Inchicore College of Further Education
Trinity College Dublin
UCD (University College Dublin)
Other (Ireland)
Other (outside Ireland)
No. of respondents
6
5
4
4
2
1
4
3
No. of respondents
8
5
4
3
2
2
2
16
3
Dublin 10:
28*
Dublin 17:
48*
Coláiste Dhúlaigh
UCD (University College Dublin)
DCU (Dublin City University)
Grange Community College
Tallaght IT
Trinity College Dublin
Whitehall College of Further Education
Other (Ireland)
Other (outside Ireland)
* Caution small base size, number of respondents shown
**All others 1 mention
(Base: All who attended a third level institution)
24. 24
79
91
21
7
2
Ready for Course
Q. Were you ready for your course? Why do you say that?
(Base: All adults 18+ who attended/ are attending college)
%
Dublin 10:
28
Dublin 17:
48
Yes
No
%
Yes
No
*Caution small base size
Of those who were ready for their course, they felt it was because it was something they wanted to do/ were ready for.
Those weren’t ready felt it was because they didn’t know what to do/ had no interest in the course.
The vast majority were ready for this course saying they wanted to continue studying and it was the right time for them.
Don’t know
25. 25
Community/School Expectations
Disparity between expectations regarding further education with Dublin 17 residents having a higher expectancy.
Q. Do you feel there is an expectation to attend college in your community/school?
(Base: All adults 18+ )
%
Dublin 10:
125
Dublin 17:
125
38
52
10
Yes
No
–18-24’s – 56%
–College educated – 43%
–Students – 71%
–ABC1F50+ - 71%
%
59
28
13
Yes
No
–Females – 62%
–18-24’s – 84%
–Students – 71%
Highest Amongst
Highest Amongst
*Caution small base size
Don’t know
Don’t know
26. 26
Importance of College Education
Further education is seen as very important in both communities.
Q. On a scale of 1-5, where 1 is very unimportant and 5 is very important, how important do you feel a college education is today?
(Base: All adults 18+)
%
Dublin 10:
125
72
14
10
1
2
Very important (5)
–Female – 77%
–25-34’s – 79%
–College educated – 80%
Very Important
Important (4)
Neither/Nor (3)
Unimportant (2)
Very unimportant (1)
%
Dublin 17:
125
62
18
17
1
2
–18-24’s – 80%
–Work full time – 67%
–College educated – 69%
Very Important
Very important (5)
Important (4)
Neither/Nor (3)
Unimportant (2)
Very unimportant (1)
27. 27
Family Member College Attendance
For almost half of Dublin 10 residents no other family member has attended college, while this drops to 1 in 3 (36%) for those in Dublin 17.
Q. What immediate family member, if any, attended college in the past?
(Base: All adults 18+)
Sibling
Mother
Father
Other
None
%
35
6
6
11
48
%
35
13
13
12
10
36
Dublin 10:
125
Dublin 17:
125
Sibling
Mother
Child(ren)
Father
Other
None
28. 28
Real Life Education Role Models
Parents followed by teachers seen as real life role models.
Q. Who are your real life role models in relation to education in your life?
(Base: All adults 18+)
%
%
Dublin 10:
125
Dublin 17:
125
Parent
Teacher
Sibling
Friend
Other family member
Class mate
44
20
5
12
3
2
73
52
33
31
22
12
1st
Total
Parent
Teacher
Other family member
Friend
Sibling
45
18
6
8
3
67
43
21
14
12
1st
Total
30. 30 Encouragingly 3 in 4 Irish adults have proceeded to third level education, with the younger generation showing a higher likelihood to progress past secondary school. Although 3rd level attendance is lower among those living in Dublin 10 and Dublin 17 compared to the national average, a positive trend is emerging (albeit off a small base) with young adult completing further studies. The primary motivator for not progressing into further education is a desire to gain employment (nationally and in Dublin 10 and Dublin 17), although the for the national population financial constraints rank second whereas for those in Dublin 10 and Dublin 17 a lack of interest is the second most common factor.
Overview of Findings
31. 31 Of those who have not completed further education, the majority (55%) would consider continuing their studies. This is higher among the younger cohorts who may be still in school or have take a study-break. There were mixed views on the level of information available to mature students about returning to education with 44% believing that there is enough while 41% do not believe there is sufficient information. Positively 3 in 4 adults who have completed/ are completing further education believe that they chose the right course, although 1 in 5 believe they should have chosen something else. Upskilling for future employment was the primary motivator for completing further education, followed by work/ employer encouragement. Of those who have not progressed into further education a need to support oneself/ family was the primary rationale behind the decision.
Overview of Findings: National Results I
32. 32 2 in 5 adults received career guidance advice in school. This is higher among younger cohorts showing a shift towards this practice. Those who have proceeded to further education are more likely to have received career guidance advice. The majority of adults are aware of government financial supports (e.g. grants), with the younger cohorts showing a higher level of awareness. While over 9 in 10 would encourage their children to pursue further education, half do not believe that that would have sufficient knowledge to advise their child. 9 in 10 parents would like more information to be made available to them. Parents believe that tax incentives (breaks) and higher grants would improve third level affordability and encourage third level access for their children.
Overview of Findings: National Results II
33. 33 Although working from a small base, the majority of Dublin 10 (79%) and Dublin 17 (91%) respondents who have proceeded past secondary school believe that they chose the right course for them. Disparity evident between the two regions with regard education expectations with higher expectations for Dublin 17 residents (59% versus 38%). That said further education is seen as very important in both districts. Although sibling attendance in both communities ranks highest for family member further educations attendance, parents are the greatest influencers, followed by teachers.
Overview of Findings: Dublin 10 & 17 Results
