Skip to main content

Love of Learning

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Mature-Age Male Students in Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter considers those reported motivations to study that are most closely connected to pursuing learning for its own sake. This theme is considered and explored through the stories of two Australian students, Alain and Rick, and one UK student, Peter. The students’ narratives reveal that age, past educational experience and circumstances all played a part in what led to study at this point in their lives. Issues emerge with some of the ideas used to frame student motivations and aspirations and, although there are areas of commonality with mature female students’ reporting, societal expectations of men and women highlight some differences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Findsen, B., & McEwen, B. (2012). Older men’s perspectives on (re-)entering post-compulsory education: Insights from a Scottish study. In M. Bowl, R. Tobias, J. Leahy, G. Ferguson, & J. Gage (Eds.), Gender, masculinities and lifelong learning (pp. 147–158). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, M. M. (1989). Mature-age students in higher education. C.O.R.E. Carfax Publishing 13 (3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leder, G. C., & Forgasz, H. J. (2004). Australian and international mature students: The daily challenges. Higher Education Research & Development, 23(2), 183–198. https://doi.org/10.1080/0729436042000206654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGivney, V. (2006). Attracting new groups into learning: Lessons from research in England, Chapter 4. In J. Chapman, P. Cartwright, & E. McGilp (Eds.), Lifelong learning, participation and equity (pp. 79–92). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, C., Burns, A., & Cooney, G. (1998). Motivation for return to study as a predictor of completion of degree amongst female mature students with children. Higher Education, 35, 221–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, C. (2008). Listening to individual voices and stories – The mature age student experience. Australian Journal of Adult Education, 48(2), 63–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaccaro, A. (2005). Self-investment and engagement of older women students: Uncovering connections to racial identity, gender, support, and motivation. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Denver, Denver, CO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaccaro, A., & Lovell, C. D. (2010). Inspiration from home: Understanding family as key to adult women’s self-investment. Adult Education Quarterly, 60(2), 161–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Madeleine Mattarozzi Laming .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Laming, M.M., Morris, A., Martin-Lynch, P. (2019). Love of Learning. In: Mature-Age Male Students in Higher Education. Palgrave Studies in Gender and Education. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24478-1_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24478-1_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-24477-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24478-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics