Same Same but Different? Non-Traditional Students and Alumni in Germany

• Published in: Studia paedagogica (Brno) Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 35 - 50
• Main Authors: Brändle, Tobias, Ordemann, Jessica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brno Masarykova Univerzita Filozofická Fakulta 2020
• Subjects: Alumni; Career Planning; Colleges & universities; Definitions; Distance Education; Employment Level; Entrance examinations; Graduation Rate; Higher education; Labor market; Motivation; Nontraditional students; Open Universities; Personality; Primary Education; Qualifications; Student Motivation; Success; Teacher Improvement; Teacher Qualifications; Vocational education; Germany
• ISSN: 1803-7437; 2336-4521
• DOI: 10.5817/SP2020-4-2

This article gives an overview about current research on non-traditional students and alumni in Germany. Its aim is to highlight similarities and differences with their traditional counterparts. The paper concentrates on the motivation to study, study performance, and labor market success (status and income) of those who do not hold a traditional higher education entrance certificate but entered university via occupational qualification. We show a widespread divergence in findings from no statistical difference at all to clear differences between non-traditional and traditional students and alumni. This holds true with regard to student motivation, study performance, and labor market success after graduation. We conclude that biggest challenge is the non-completion rates of non-traditional students, which poses a development task for institutions of higher education.