The long-term effects of a university outreach programme: Implications on higher education enrolment

Consistent evidences outline a global increase in enrolment of young people in higher education. Nevertheless, the under-representation in higher education of students of low socio-economic status ('SES') is still evident. The current study reports the results of a follow-up that has been conducted among 198 former Israeli high-school students, living in the city of Tel Aviv, who participated in a university outreach programme and who are now in their 30s. The findings indicate that the university outreach programme significantly contributed to the enrolment of low SES students in higher education (HE) alongside promoting among them the idea of meritocracy. It was found that all former participants-including those who did not continue to higher education-attribute their success/failure to pursue higher education to their own personal abilities. By doing so, they all actually legitimize social inequality. In light of these findings, it is suggested that outreach programmes can motivate disadvantaged students to enrol in higher education but they cannot challenge the social order.