Exploring student perceptions on the influence of a university education on up-ward socioeconomic mobility: A case study of students at the University of the Western Cape

Abstract

South Africa is still under construction, with the aftermath of apartheid still lingering in the South African education system and in societal constructs amongst families of colour with low socioeconomic status backgrounds. For more than two decades since South Africa has been declared a democratically free society, education has been at the forefront as a means to socioeconomic liberation with movements such as #FEESMUSTFALL bringing to light the inequality that still lingers around access to higher education. Using human capital theory and socioeconomic mobility as a framework, the study aims to explore, describe and determine the perceived impact of university education on students from a low socioeconomic status using the case of the University of the Western Cape.