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Influence of social background on educational and occupational reorientation after higher education drop-out

Start of the project: 2018-Jan-01 - End of the project: 2018-Dec-31

The German education and training system is heavily influenced by social inequalities, especially in relation to social background. Social background influences educational choices and educational returns alike and is thus a substantial factor for the distribution of opportunities at every stage in the educational system. The risk of dropping out of a study programme also varies based on social background and the associated educational choices prior to starting university studies. Further, the resulting educational inequalities affect areas that lie beyond the educational system and hence lead to disparate vocational pathways and achievements.

With regard to the persisting inequalities within the (German) educational and training system that are ascribed to social background, questions arise as to the effect of these inequalities on educational and professional development after higher education drop-out. This requires a re-evaluation and an individually complex decision-making process in terms of possible future educational and professional pathways. It can be assumed that during this time of reorientation, social background once again proves to be influential.

The research project addresses this connection. The overall aim of the project is to analyse the influence of social background on the educational and vocational reorientation process after drop-out from higher education. The following questions shall be pursued in particular:

  • Does social background influence the intention to pick up a new study programme after a prior drop-out?
  • Does the social background of individuals that opt for vocational training after dropping out of higher education influence the type and level of vocational training as well as the duration of the transitional period?
  • Does social background have an effect on the duration of the reorientation process after drop-out?

The type of vocational and educational reorientation and the duration of the transitional process in particular have an important influence on equality of opportunity, depending on social background. If social background makes a difference to chances of compensating for dropping out of higher education by taking another degree that qualifies for a profession, this would be very important information for the scientific, public, and political spheres.

Data from the nationwide representative survey of graduates of the 2014 summer semester by the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) is used for this project.

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Publications

Wie geht es für wen weiter? Verläufe der bildungs- und berufsbezogenen Neuorientierung nach Abbruch eines Studiums und der Einfluss der sozialen Herkunft.

Kracke, N., & Isleib, S. (2023).
Wie geht es für wen weiter? Verläufe der bildungs- und berufsbezogenen Neuorientierung nach Abbruch eines Studiums und der Einfluss der sozialen Herkunft. Soziale Welt, 74(2), 173-215. https://doi.org/10.5771/0038-6073-2023-2-173
Abstract

This article is the first to comprehensively examine the question of the extent to which social origin exerts an influence on the choice of educational and occupational options after dropping out of a first degree programme. Based on the survey of exmatriculated students from the 2014 summer semester, six typical patterns of reorientation after dropping out are identified by means of sequence and cluster analyses. These vary with regard to the types of activities as well as temporal dimensions. The social origin proves to be a significant factor influencing reorientation. The impact of social origin is most visible with regard to weighing up between renewed studies and other alternatives: individuals from fully academic parental homes are m

Presentations

Double the Struggle: Gender-Specific Origin Effects in Higher Education Dropout and Subsequent (Career) Transitions – Are women more impacted by their social origin than men?

Kracke, N., & Isleib, S. (2023, September).
Double the Struggle: Gender-Specific Origin Effects in Higher Education Dropout and Subsequent (Career) Transitions – Are women more impacted by their social origin than men? Vortrag auf der Konferenz 30th Annual Workshop of the European Research Network on Transitions in Youth (TIY), Edinburgh, Schottland.

Do women depend more on their social origin than men? Dropping out of higher education and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects.

Kracke, N. (2022, November).
Do women depend more on their social origin than men? Dropping out of higher education and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects. Vortrag auf der Konferenz CIDER-LERN Conference 2022, Luxembourg.

Do women depend more on their social origin than men? Dropping out of higher education and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects.

Kracke, N. (2022, September).
Do women depend more on their social origin than men? Dropping out of higher education and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects. Vortrag auf der Konferenz "The biennial Mid-Term Conference of the RN10 of the European Sociological Association (ESA)" at "International Week of Education and Training (SIEF)" , Lausanne, Schweiz.

Does social origin play a more decisive role for women than for men? Dropping out of studies and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects.

Kracke, N., & Isleib, S. (2021, Juni).
Does social origin play a more decisive role for women than for men? Dropping out of studies and subsequent reorientation in the focus of gender-specific origin effects. Vortrag auf dem Workshop (In)visibilities in Academia and Higher Education Exploring Links between (In)visibility and Social Inequality, Leibniz Center for Science and Society, Hannover, Deutschland.

What's next? Educational and Vocational Reorientation after Higher Education Drop out and the Effect of Social Origin.

Kracke, N. (2021, Juni).
What's next? Educational and Vocational Reorientation after Higher Education Drop out and the Effect of Social Origin. Vortrag auf der Konferenz ISA RC28 Spring Meeting 2021, Turku, Finnland.

Effects of social origin on educational and occupational reorientation after higher education dropout.

Kracke, N., & Isleib, S. (2020, November).
Effects of social origin on educational and occupational reorientation after higher education dropout. Vortrag bei LuxERA Conference 2020 " Tackling Educational Inequalities in Luxembourg and Beyond " , University of Luxembourg.

Einfluss der sozialen Herkunft auf die bildungs- und berufsbezogene Neuorientierung nach Studienabbruch.

Kracke, N. (2018, April).
Einfluss der sozialen Herkunft auf die bildungs- und berufsbezogene Neuorientierung nach Studienabbruch. Vortrag auf der BIBB-Tagung " Abbruch, Umbruch, Aufbruch? Lebensverläufe junger Menschen und Ungleichheit in Ausbildung, Studium und Beruf (LUASB) " in Bonn, Deutschland.

Researchers

Dr. Nancy Kracke