Understanding diversity as a framework for improving student throughput

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences Education
• Oral Hygiene Training
• Higher Education Access

Background:

• Diverse healthcare graduates can improve service delivery.
• Minority and disadvantaged students face challenges in university environments.
• University settings may alienate certain student populations, affecting their academic throughput.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of first-year oral hygiene students in South Africa.
• To identify factors contributing to academic success and failure among diverse students.
• To gain insights into enablers and barriers to learning in higher education.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semi-structured, individual interviews with four first-year oral hygiene students.
• Utilized literature-identified enablers and barriers to learning to guide thematic analysis.
• Explored students' university academic experiences.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: educational identity, language, and finances.
• A white, middle-class student recognized university-rewarded practices.
• Three working-class, Black students experienced cultural and experiential tensions but offered transition suggestions.

Conclusions:

• Students desire integration into new academic practices while valuing their unique identities.
• A proposed educational model should facilitate learner initiation and challenge existing power structures.
• Acknowledging student differences is vital for successful academic transitions.